Mixed-phase fluids for nucleic acid sequencing and other analytical assays

ABSTRACT

An analytical system that includes a flow cell, a liquid delivery component, a gas delivery component and a bubble generator component, wherein the liquid delivery component is configured to deliver liquid from one or more reservoirs to the bubble generator component, wherein the gas delivery component is configured to deliver gas from one or more source to the bubble generator component, and wherein the bubble generator component is configured to mix liquids from the liquid delivery component with gas from the gas delivery component to deliver a fluid foam to the inside of the flow cell, wherein the fluid foam includes bubbles of the gas in the liquid.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/700,422, filed Dec. 2, 2019, which claims the benefit of, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/930,688, filed Nov. 5, 2019, U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/883,276, filed Aug. 6, 2019, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/774,998, filed Dec. 4, 2018, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to molecular assays and hasspecific applicability to nucleic acid sequencing procedures.

Accurate sequence determination of a template nucleic acid strand isimportant for molecular diagnostics. Identification of a singlenucleotide base from among alternatives at a known position can serve asthe basis for analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (i.e.,“SNPs”). A SNP can in turn be used to determine a phenotype for theindividual such as susceptibility to a disease or propensity for havinga desirable trait. Detecting genetic variants in a patient can indicatethe efficacy for certain medications to treat the patient or the risk ofadverse side effects when treating the patient with certain medications.

Commercially available nucleic acid sequencing platforms have vastlyincreased our knowledge of the genetic underpinnings of actionabletraits. Improvements in sequencing biochemistry and detection hardwarecontinue. However, the cost of currently available sequencing platformshas inhibited uptake of sequencing in the clinic despite broad use inresearch laboratories. Also, sequencing platforms are relatively slow interms of providing a diagnostic or prognostic answer on a timeframe thatmatches expectations of patients and the doctors that treat them. Thepresent disclosure provides fluidics systems and methods that reducesequencing time, lower costs of sequencing, reduce reagent volume andprovide related advantages as well. The systems and methods of thepresent disclosure can be used for chemical and biological assays beyondnucleic acid sequencing.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a system for evaluating biological orchemical analytes (e.g. for sequencing nucleic acids). The system caninclude a stage, a liquid delivery component, a delivery component for asecond phase and a phase mixing component, wherein the liquid forms afirst phase that is immiscible with the second phase, wherein the stageis configured to accept a flow cell, wherein the liquid deliverycomponent is configured to deliver liquid from one or more reservoirs tothe phase mixing component, wherein the delivery component for thesecond phase is configured to provide the second phase to the phasemixing component, and wherein the phase mixing component is configuredto mix liquids from the liquid delivery component with the second phaseto deliver a mixed-phase fluid to the inside of the flow cell, whereinthe mixed-phase fluid includes bubbles, globules or particles of thesecond phase in the liquid.

In some configurations, a system of the present disclosure can include astage, a liquid delivery component, a gas delivery component and abubble generator component, wherein the stage is configured to accept aflow cell, wherein the liquid delivery component is configured todeliver liquid from one or more reservoirs to the inside of the flowcell, wherein the gas delivery component is configured to deliver gasfrom one or more source to the bubble generator component, and whereinthe bubble generator component is configured to introduce bubbles fromthe gas delivery component into the liquid from the liquid deliverycomponent to deliver a fluid foam to the inside of the flow cell,wherein the fluid foam includes bubbles of the gas in the liquid.

In some configurations, a system of the present disclosure can include astage, a first liquid delivery component, a second liquid deliverycomponent and a phase mixing component, wherein the first liquid isimmiscible with the second liquid, wherein the stage is configured toaccept a flow cell, wherein the first liquid delivery component isconfigured to deliver the first liquid from one or more reservoirs tothe phase mixing component, wherein the second liquid delivery componentis configured to deliver the second liquid from one or more source tothe phase mixing component, and wherein the phase mixing component isconfigured to mix the first and second liquid to deliver an emulsion tothe inside of the flow cell, wherein the emulsion includes globules ofthe second liquid in the first liquid.

In some configurations, a system of the present disclosure can include astage, a liquid delivery component, a particle delivery component and aphase mixing component, wherein the particle is immiscible with theliquid, wherein the stage is configured to accept a flow cell, whereinthe liquid delivery component is configured to deliver liquid from oneor more reservoirs to the phase mixing component, wherein the particledelivery component is configured to provide the particles to the phasemixing component, and wherein the phase mixing component is configuredto mix liquids from the liquid delivery component with the particles todeliver a fluid slurry to the inside of the flow cell, wherein the fluidslurry includes particles in the liquid.

Also provided is a method for detecting a molecular analyte (e.g. aprotein or nucleic acid), the method including steps of (a) providing adetection system including a flow cell having the molecular analytetherein; (b) delivering a series of fluids to the inside of the flowcell to modify the molecular analyte, wherein at least one of the fluidsis a mixed-phase fluid that includes bubbles, globules or particles ofthe second phase suspended in the liquid phase; and (c) detecting themolecular analyte that is modified in step (b).

A method for sequencing a nucleic acid can include steps of (a)providing a sequencing system including (i) a flow cell having a nucleicacid immobilized therein, (ii) a phase mixing component that mixes aliquid phase with a second phase at a predefined rate; (b) delivering aseries of fluids to the inside of the flow cell to perform a cycle of asequencing process, wherein at least one of the fluids is a mixed-phasefluid produced by the phase mixing component to include bubbles,globules or particles of the second phase suspended in the liquid phase;and (c) repeating step (b), thereby determining the sequence for thenucleic acid.

A method for sequencing a nucleic acid can include steps of (a)providing a sequencing system including (i) a flow cell having a nucleicacid immobilized therein, (ii) a bubble generator component thatdelivers gas to a liquid at a predefined rate; (b) delivering a seriesof fluids to the inside of the flow cell to perform a cycle of asequencing process, wherein at least one of the fluids is a fluid foamproduced by the bubble generator component to include bubbles of the gasin a liquid; and (c) repeating step (b), thereby determining thesequence for the nucleic acid.

A method for sequencing a nucleic acid can include steps of (a)providing a sequencing system including (i) a flow cell having a nucleicacid immobilized therein, (ii) a phase mixing component that mixes afirst liquid with a second liquid at a predefined rate; (b) delivering aseries of fluids to the inside of the flow cell to perform a cycle of asequencing process, wherein at least one of the fluids is an emulsionproduced by the phase mixing component to include globules of the secondliquid in the first liquid; and (c) repeating step (b), therebydetermining the sequence for the nucleic acid.

A method for sequencing a nucleic acid can include steps of (a)providing a sequencing system including (i) a flow cell having a nucleicacid immobilized therein, (ii) a phase mixing component that mixes aliquid with solid-phase particles at a predefined rate; (b) delivering aseries of fluids to the inside of the flow cell to perform a cycle of asequencing process, wherein at least one of the fluids is a fluid slurryproduced by the phase mixing component to include the particles in theliquid; and (c) repeating step (b), thereby determining the sequence forthe nucleic acid.

Further provided is a flow cell that includes a stabilized ternarycomplex immobilized inside the flow cell, wherein the stabilized ternarycomplex includes a polymerase, a primed template nucleic acid and a nextcorrect nucleotide for the template; and a mixed-phase fluid including aplurality of gas bubbles, liquid globules or particles in a liquid,wherein the mixed-phase fluid is in contact with the stabilized ternarycomplex.

In another aspect, a flow cell can include a luminescently labellednucleic acid that is immobilized inside a flow cell, and a mixed-phasefluid including a plurality of gas bubbles, liquid globules or particlesin a liquid, wherein the mixed-phase fluid is in contact with theluminescently labelled nucleic acid.

In a further aspect, a flow cell can include a reversibly terminatednucleic acid that is immobilized inside a flow cell, and a mixed-phasefluid including a plurality of gas bubbles, liquid globules or particlesin a liquid, wherein the mixed-phase fluid is in contact with thereversibly terminated nucleic acid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow cell having two detection channels, each of thedetection channels being fluidically connected to a gas mixingcomponent, the gas mixing component using a T junction to connect aliquid channel and a gas channel.

FIG. 2 shows a flow cell having two detection channels, each of thedetection channels being fluidically connected to a gas mixingcomponent, the gas mixing component using a Y junction to connect aliquid channel and a gas channel.

FIG. 3 shows a bubble generator having a T junction and a threadedcoupling for a gas line.

FIG. 4 shows a bubble generator having a T junction, and threadedcouplings for a gas line and a liquid line.

FIG. 5 shows a bubble generator having a Y junction and a hydrophobicfilter membrane that functions as a gas resistor at the junction.

FIG. 6 shows a fluidic circuit for delivering a fluid foam to a flowcell.

FIG. 7 shows plots of signal intensity vs. sequencing cycle forsequencing runs that used liquid delivery of reagents (FIG. 7A) or fluidfoam delivery of the reagents (FIG. 7B).

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of functional components of anucleic acid sequencing system.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an assembly of several components ofa nucleic acid sequencing system.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a routing manifold fluidically connected tosipper arrays.

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of routing manifold engaged with rotaryvalves.

FIG. 12A shows a perspective view of the fluidic connection between anucleic acid sequencing system and a flow cell; FIG. 12B shows the sameperspective, but with the connectors disconnected.

FIG. 13 shows the connection between a flow cell and the liquid deliverycomponent of a nucleic acid sequencing system.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show exploded views of fluidic connectors that containa bubble generator.

FIG. 15A shows a bubble generator, FIG. 15B shows an exploded view ofthe bubble generator, FIG. 15C shows the inside of one piece of thebubble generator and FIG. 15D shows the other piece of the bubblegenerator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Bubbles have been known to have adverse impacts on molecular analysessuch as nucleic acid sequencing processes and protein activity assays.Accordingly, avoidance or removal of bubbles has previously been adesign goal and user requirement for methods and apparatus that are usedin molecular analyses. Analytical methods that are typically configuredto avoid bubbles include, for example, those in which a protein iscontacted with analytes of interest under conditions where the proteinsbind to the analytes or where the proteins catalyze a change to theanalytes. The binding or catalysis can produce a signal or otherdetectable event that is indicative of the presence, quantity,composition, function or other characteristic of the protein and/oranalyte. The analytical methods are typically carried out in liquidsthat are formulated to maintain stability of the reaction componentsespecially the proteins. Bubbles are believed to damage proteins due tosurface denaturation at the gas-liquid interface. See, for example,Clarkson et al., J Colloid Interface Sci. 215(2):323-332 (1999), whichis incorporated herein by reference. As a result, bubbles are avoided inmolecular analyses, especially those that utilize proteins.

Bubbles can also cause interference for the detection devices that areused for many molecular analyses such as nucleic acid sequencingprocesses and protein activity assays. For example, a bubble that passesinto the optical path of a luminescence detector will scatter the lightthat would otherwise be detected. Many sequencing processes and otheranalytical assays utilize solid phase substrates. In these assays liquidreagents interact with analytes on a surface to produce a detectableproduct or signal. However, bubbles that adhere to the surface canscatter optical signals and can block the liquid reagents fromcontacting the analytes, at least temporarily, and may permanentlydamage the analytes by drying them out.

Bubbles are routinely avoided in molecular analyses such as nucleic acidsequencing processes and protein activity assays due to a perceptionthat problems will arise, such as those set forth above. The presentdisclosure provides systems and methods that employ bubbles to good usein nucleic acid sequencing processes and other analytical methods.Surprisingly it has been found that bubbles can be introduced into aliquid stream to produce a fluid foam that is, in turn, capable ofparticipating in one or more steps of a nucleic acid sequencingreaction. The bubbles can be introduced into the liquid stream undercontrolled conditions to have a variety of desired effects and to avoidunwanted outcomes. For example, a fluid foam can be used to wash a solidsupport upon which a sequencing reaction takes place, for example,providing relatively efficient removal of a previously deliveredsolution and replacement with a new solution. Packing density of thebubbles in the fluid foam can be adjusted to influence the efficiency offluid exchange. Efficient exchange can be facilitated by using a fluidfoam having densely packed bubbles. A collection of densely packedbubbles is difficult to penetrate diffusively because the bubblesprovide physical obstacles to diffusion. Therefore, dense packing ofbubbles can allow better segregation between the reagents of two fluidsthat are introduced to a flow cell in series.

Furthermore, the flow of a fluid foam through a channel has a differentprofile than a liquid laminar flow. A laminar flow has a parabolicvelocity profile (faster in the center, slower on the outside). In aflow of fluid foam the bubbles can be maintained in lock-step, forexample, by appropriate choice of flow rate, and flow together. Thishelps with exchange of one fluid for another because the foam preservesa flat front regardless of how far it has propagated through the system.Reduced diffusion between proximal flowing fluids, as well as reducedvelocity shearing can help preserve each fluid reagent slug as itpropagates through a flow cell or other fluidic channel, and together,these two effects can reduce the amount of time required to achieve aparticular level of fluid exchange compared to the time that would berequired for a non-foam fluid to achieve the same level of exchange forthe same fluid reagents.

Moreover, bubbles can facilitate mixing within a solution to increaseefficiency of reagent transfer between a fluid foam and the surface of asolid support. Rapid convective diffusion near bubbles can increase thereaction rate of diffusion limited kinetics near the surface byreplenishing (or completely disrupting) the depletion region. A furtheradvantage of using bubbles is a reduction in reagent cost due to areduction in the volume or amount of fluid utilized. More specifically,because gases used to produce bubbles are cheaper than many reagentsused for nucleic acid sequencing, and because a relatively high volumeof fluid can be required to perform particular step(s) of a sequencingreaction, adding bubbles to the fluid can act as an inert filler toreduce the amount of reagent fluid consumed to effectively perform theparticular step(s). Controlled delivery and removal of bubbles as setforth herein can allow bubbles to be cleared from a flow cell whendesired, for example, to facilitate optical detection of the flow cellinterior. Other inert fillers in a bulk liquid, such as particles orliquids that are immiscible with the bulk liquid, can provide advantagessimilar to those set forth above for bubbles.

Bubbles can be used for improved thermoregulation, for example, whenpre-equilibrating solutions to the temperature of a flow cell or otherfluidic channel. For example, the temperature of a liquid reagent can beincreased or decreased by introducing a gas that is heated or chilled,respectively. The bubbles in the resulting foam provide a high surfacearea of contact with the bulk liquid phase and this can facilitate rapidand efficient change in the temperature of the reagents in the bulkliquid. Dispersed phase materials other than bubbles, such as particlesor immiscible liquids, can provide similar advantages for controllingtemperature when added to a bulk phase liquid to form a mixed-phasefluid.

A fluid foam can also be used to remove other bubbles, for example,surface bubbles that are otherwise difficult to dislodge from a surface.Foams are capable of dislodging surface bubbles in some situations moreefficiently than homogenous liquids that are composed similarly to thebulk phase of the foams. Bubbles can also provide a useful visual aidfor determining flow rates in a flow cell.

The present disclosure sets forth systems, apparatus and methods thatemploy fluid foam. The fluid foam can be replaced with other mixed-phasefluids such as fluid emulsions or fluid particle slurries to achievesimilar results. Accordingly, many configurations of the apparatus andmethods set forth below need not be limited to the use of fluid foam andcan employ other mixed-phase fluids instead.

Terms used herein will be understood to take on their ordinary meaningin the relevant art unless specified otherwise. Several terms usedherein and their meanings are set forth below.

As used herein, the term “array” refers to a population of moleculesthat are attached to one or more solid supports such that the moleculesat one site can be distinguished from molecules at other sites. An arraycan include different molecules that are each located at differentaddressable sites on a solid support. Alternatively, an array caninclude separate solid supports each functioning as a site that bears adifferent molecule, wherein the different molecules can be identifiedaccording to the locations of the solid supports on a surface to whichthe solid supports are attached, or according to the locations of thesolid supports in a liquid such as a fluid stream. The molecules of thearray can be, for example, nucleotides, nucleic acid primers, nucleicacid templates, primed nucleic acid templates or nucleic acid enzymessuch as polymerases, ligases, exonucleases or combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “attached” refers to the state of two thingsbeing joined, fastened, adhered, connected or bound to each other. Forexample, a reaction component, such as a primed template nucleic acid ora polymerase, can be attached to a solid phase component by a covalentor non-covalent bond. A covalent bond is characterized by the sharing ofpairs of electrons between atoms. A non-covalent bond is a chemical bondthat does not involve the sharing of pairs of electrons and can include,for example, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals forces,hydrophilic interactions and hydrophobic interactions.

As used herein, the term “binary complex,” when used in reference to apolymerase, refers to an intermolecular association between thepolymerase and a nucleic acid such as a primed template nucleic acid,but excluding monomeric nucleotide molecules such as a next correctnucleotide of the primed template nucleic acid.

As used herein, the term “blocking moiety,” when used in reference to anucleotide, means a part of the nucleotide that inhibits or prevents the3′ oxygen of the nucleotide from forming a covalent linkage to a nextcorrect nucleotide during a nucleic acid polymerization reaction. Theblocking moiety of a “reversible terminator” nucleotide can be removedfrom the nucleotide analog, or otherwise modified, to allow the3′-oxygen of the nucleotide to covalently link to a next correctnucleotide. This process is referred to as “deblocking” the nucleotideanalog. Such a blocking moiety is referred to herein as a “reversibleterminator moiety.” Exemplary reversible terminator moieties are setforth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,427,673; 7,414,116; 7,057,026; 7,544,794 or8,034,923; or PCT publications WO 91/06678 or WO 07/123744, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. A nucleotide that has ablocking moiety or reversible terminator moiety can be at the 3′ end ofa nucleic acid, such as a primer, or can be a monomer that is notcovalently attached to a nucleic acid.

As used herein, the term “bubble” refers to a globule of gas within aliquid or solid. A bubble can be observed in a fluid due to the gashaving a different refractive index compared to the surrounding liquid.A bubble that is completely surrounded by liquid is referred to as a“bulk bubble.” A bubble that is attached to a solid phase surface isreferred to as a “surface bubble.”

As used herein, the term “catalytic metal ion” refers to a metal ionthat facilitates phosphodiester bond formation between the 3′-oxygen ofa nucleic acid (e.g., a primer) and the phosphate of an incomingnucleotide by a polymerase. A “divalent catalytic metal cation” is acatalytic metal ion having a valence of two. Catalytic metal ions can bepresent at concentrations that stabilize formation of a complex betweena polymerase, nucleotide, and primed template nucleic acid, referred toas non-catalytic concentrations of a metal ion insofar as phosphodiesterbond formation does not occur. Catalytic concentrations of a metal ionrefer to the amount of a metal ion sufficient for polymerases tocatalyze the reaction between the 3′-oxygen of a nucleic acid (e.g., aprimer) and the phosphate moiety of an incoming nucleotide. Exemplarycatalytic metal ions include Mg′ and Mn′.

The term “comprising” is intended herein to be open-ended, including notonly the recited elements, but further encompassing any additionalelements.

As used herein, the term “cycle,” when used in reference to a sequencingprocess, refer to the portion of a sequencing run that is repeated toindicate the presence of a nucleotide. Typically, a cycle includesseveral steps such as steps for delivery of reagents, washing awayunreacted reagents and detection of signals indicative of changesoccurring in response to added reagents.

As used herein, the term “diffusional exchange,” when used in referenceto members of a binding complex, refers to the ability of the members tomove in a fluid to associate with, or dissociate from, each other.Diffusional exchange can occur when there are no barriers that preventthe members from interacting with each other to form a complex. However,diffusional exchange is understood to exist even if diffusion isretarded, reduced or altered so long as access is not absolutelyprevented.

As used herein, the term “each,” when used in reference to a collectionof items, is intended to identify an individual item in the collectionbut does not necessarily refer to every item in the collection.Exceptions can occur if explicit disclosure or context clearly dictatesotherwise.

As used herein, “equilibrium” refers to a state of balance due to theequal action of opposing forces. For example, a ternary complex formedbetween a primed template nucleic acid, polymerase, and cognatenucleotide is in equilibrium with non-bound polymerase and non-boundnucleotide when the rate of formation of the ternary complex is balancedby the rate of its dissociation. Under this condition, the reversiblebinding reaction ceases to change its net ratio of products (e.g.ternary complex) to reactants (e.g. polymerase, nucleotide and nucleicacid). If the rate of a forward reaction (e.g., ternary complexformation) is balanced by the rate of a reverse reaction (e.g., ternarycomplex dissociation), then there is no net change in the ratio ofproducts to reactants.

As used herein, the term “exogenous,” when used in reference to a moietyof a molecule, means a chemical moiety that is not present in a naturalanalog of the molecule. For example, an exogenous label of a nucleotideis a label that is not present on a naturally occurring nucleotide.Similarly, an exogenous label that is present on a polymerase is notfound on the polymerase in its native milieu.

As used herein, the term “extension,” when used in reference to anucleic acid, means a process of adding at least one nucleotide to the3′ end of the nucleic acid. The term “polymerase extension,” when usedin reference to a nucleic acid, refers to a polymerase catalyzed processof adding at least one nucleotide to the 3′ end of the nucleic acid. Anucleotide or oligonucleotide that is added to a nucleic acid byextension is said to be incorporated into the nucleic acid. Accordingly,the term “incorporating” can be used to refer to the process of joininga nucleotide or oligonucleotide to the 3′ end of a nucleic acid byformation of a phosphodiester bond.

As used herein, the term “extendable,” when used in reference to anucleotide, means that the nucleotide has an oxygen or hydroxyl moietyat the 3′ position, and is capable of forming a covalent linkage to anext correct nucleotide if and when incorporated into a nucleic acid. Anextendable nucleotide can be at the 3′ position of a primer or it can bea monomeric nucleotide. A nucleotide that is extendable will lackblocking moieties such as reversible terminator moieties.

As used herein, a “flow cell” is a reaction chamber that includes one ormore channels that direct fluid to a detection zone. The detection zonecan be functionally coupled to a detector such that a reaction occurringin the reaction chamber can be observed. For example, a flow cell cancontain primed template nucleic acid molecules tethered to a surface, towhich nucleotides and ancillary reagents are iteratively applied andwashed away. The flow cell can include a transparent material thatpermits the sample to be imaged after a desired reaction occurs. Forexample, a flow cell can include a glass or plastic slide containingdetection channels through which polymerases, dNTPs and buffers can bepumped. The glass or plastic inside the channels can be decorated withone or more primed template nucleic acid molecules to be sequenced. Anexternal imaging system can be positioned to detect the molecules at adetection zone in the detection channel or on a surface in the detectionchannel. Exemplary flow cells, methods for their manufacture and methodsfor their use are described in US Pat. App. Publ. Nos. 2010/0111768 A1or 2012/0270305 A1; or WO 05/065814, each of which is incorporated byreference herein.

As used herein, the term “fluid” refers to a liquid or a gas, that iscapable of flowing and that changes its shape to fill a vessel. In manyconditions, a fluid will change shape at a steady rate when acted uponby a force tending to change its shape.

As used herein, the term “fluid emulsion” refers to a first liquid thatcontains globules of a second liquid, the globules being immiscible withthe first liquid. The first liquid functions as a dispersion phase (alsoknown as a bulk phase) and the globules function as a dispersed phase.Exemplary dispersion phase liquids include those that contain reagentsor products of a reaction such as a binding reaction, nucleic acidsequencing reaction or reaction used in an analytical assay. Aqueousliquids provide a particularly useful dispersion phase. Exemplaryglobules that can be present in aqueous liquid include, but are notlimited to, oils, micelles, liposomes or vesicles. A fluid emulsion cancontain one or both of bulk globules (i.e. globules surrounded byliquid) and surface globules (globules in contact with a solid-supportsurface such as a flow cell surface). In some configurations, a fluidemulsion can be substantially devoid of either bulk globules or surfaceglobules. A fluid microemulsion will have globules with average diameterthat is equal or smaller than 1 micron, whereas a fluid macroemulsionwill have globules with average diameter larger than 1 micron.

As used herein, the term “fluid foam” refers to liquid that containsbubbles of gas. The liquid functions as a dispersion phase and thebubbles function as a dispersed phase. Exemplary dispersion phaseliquids include those that contain reagents or products of a reactionsuch as a binding reaction, nucleic acid sequencing reaction or reactionused in an analytical assay. Aqueous liquids provide a particularlyuseful dispersion phase. Exemplary gases include inert gases such asnitrogen (N₂) or noble gases. Useful noble gases include, for example,helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe). Anotheruseful gas is atmospheric air of planet earth. A fluid foam can containone or both of bulk bubbles (i.e. bubbles surrounded by liquid) andsurface bubbles (bubbles in contact with a solid-support surface such asa flow cell surface). In some configurations, a fluid foam can besubstantially devoid of either bulk bubbles or surface bubbles. A fluidmicrofoam will have bubbles with average diameter that is equal orsmaller than 1 micron, whereas a fluid macrofoam will have bubbles withaverage diameter larger than 1 micron.

As used herein, the term “fluid slurry” refers to liquid that containssolid-phase particles. The liquid functions as a dispersion phase (alsoknown as a bulk phase) and the particles function as a dispersed phase.Exemplary dispersion phase liquids include those that contain reagentsor products of a reaction such as a binding reaction, nucleic acidsequencing reaction or reaction used in an analytical assay. Aqueousliquids provide a particularly useful dispersion phase. Exemplarysolid-phase materials include those set forth herein in the context ofarrays and beads. A fluid slurry can contain one or both of bulkparticles (i.e. particles surrounded by liquid) and surface particles(particles in contact with the surface of another solid-support such asa flow cell). In some configurations, a fluid slurry can besubstantially devoid of either bulk particles or surface particles. Afluid microslurry will have particles with average diameter that isequal or smaller than 1 micron, whereas a fluid macroslurry will haveparticles with average diameter larger than 1 micron.

As used herein, the term “fluidically coupled,” when used in referenceto two things, means that a fluid, or solute in the fluid, is capable oftransferring from one of the things to the other. For example, areservoir can be fluidically coupled to a flow cell via a tube throughwhich fluid can flow. In another example, two sites in an array arefluidically coupled if the array resides in a liquid such that a solutecan diffuse from one site to the other.

As used herein, the terms “free” or “non-bound,” when used in referenceto components that are capable of forming a complex in a bindingreaction, refers to components that are not in a bound state. By way ofexample, an equilibrium binding reaction can include a product (e.g. aternary complex) and reactants that are not bound up in the product(e.g. free polymerases, free nucleic acids or free nucleotides).

As used herein, the term “globule” refers to a droplet of a first liquidwithin a second liquid, wherein the first liquid is immiscible with thesecond liquid. A globule can be observed in a fluid due to the globulehaving a different refractive index compared to the surrounding liquid.A globule that is completely surrounded by liquid is referred to as a“bulk globule.” A globule that is attached to a solid phase surface isreferred to as a “surface globule.”

As used herein, the term “inhibitory metal ion” refers to a metal ionthat, when in the presence of a polymerase enzyme, inhibitsphosphodiester bond formation needed for chemical incorporation of anucleotide into a primer. An inhibitory metal ion may interact with apolymerase, for example, via competitive binding compared to catalyticmetal ions. A “divalent inhibitory metal ion” is an inhibitory metal ionhaving a valence of two. Examples of divalent inhibitory metal ionsinclude, but are not limited to, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Sr²⁺. Thetrivalent Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions are inhibitory metal ions having a valenceof three.

As used herein, the term “immobilized,” when used in reference to amolecule, refers to direct or indirect, covalent or non-covalentattachment of the molecule to a solid support. In some configurations,covalent attachment may be preferred, but generally all that is requiredis that the molecules (e.g. nucleic acids) remain immobilized orattached to the support under the conditions in which it is intended touse the support, for example, in applications that utilizeimmobilization of nucleic acid or polymerase at or near a sensor.

As used herein, the term “label” refers to a molecule or moiety thereofthat provides a detectable characteristic. The detectable characteristiccan be, for example, an optical signal such as absorbance of radiation,luminescence or fluorescence emission, luminescence or fluorescencelifetime, luminescence or fluorescence polarization, or the like;Rayleigh and/or Mie scattering; binding affinity for a ligand orreceptor; magnetic properties; electrical properties; charge; mass;radioactivity or the like. Exemplary labels include, without limitation,a fluorophore, luminophore, chromophore, nanoparticle (e.g., gold,silver, carbon nanotubes), heavy atom, radioactive isotope, mass label,charge label, spin label, receptor, ligand, or the like.

As used herein, the term “ligand” refers to a molecule that binds toanother molecule (or complex of molecules), such as a receptor. Exampleligands include peptides or polypeptides, antibodies, hormones, smallmolecule drugs, nucleic acids, nucleotides, etc. Ligands can benaturally occurring or synthetic molecules. The combination of a ligandbound to a receptor by a reversible association can be termed a“receptor-ligand complex.”

As used herein, the term “mixed-phase,” when used in reference to afluid, means, a liquid that contains a suspension of gas bubbles, liquidglobules or solid particles that are not miscible with the liquid.Exemplary mixed-phase fluids include, but are not limited to, a fluidfoam (gas bubbles in liquid), fluid emulsion (globules of a first liquidthat are immiscible with a surrounding second liquid), fluid slurry(solid particles in liquid). Exemplary liquids include those thatcontain reagents or products of a reaction such as a binding reaction,nucleic acid sequencing reaction, synthetic reaction or reaction used inan analytical assay.

As used herein, the term “next correct nucleotide” refers to thenucleotide type that will bind and/or incorporate at the 3′ end of aprimer to complement a base in a template strand to which the primer ishybridized. The base in the template strand is referred to as the “nextbase” and is immediately 5′ of the base in the template that ishybridized to the 3′ end of the primer. The next correct nucleotide canbe referred to as the “cognate” of the next base and vice versa. Cognatenucleotides that interact specifically with each other in a ternarycomplex or in a double stranded nucleic acid are said to “pair” witheach other. A nucleotide having a base that is not complementary to thenext template base is referred to as an “incorrect”, “mismatch” or“non-cognate” nucleotide.

As used herein, the term “nucleotide” can be used to refer to a nativenucleotide or analog thereof. Examples include, but are not limited to,nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs) such as ribonucleotide triphosphates(rNTPs), deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), exogenously labellednucleotides, or non-natural analogs thereof such asdideoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (ddNTPs) or reversibly terminatednucleotide triphosphates (rtNTPs).

As used herein, the term “particle,” when used in reference to a fluidslurry, refers to a solid phase material within a liquid phase, whereinthe solid is not dissolved in the liquid. A particle can be observed ina fluid due to the particle having a different refractive index oroptical transmittance compared to the surrounding liquid. A particlethat is completely surrounded by liquid is referred to as a “bulkparticle.” A particle that is attached to a solid phase surface isreferred to as a “surface particle.”

As used herein, the term “polymerase” can be used to refer to a nucleicacid synthesizing enzyme, including but not limited to, DNA polymerase,RNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase, primase and transferase.Typically, the polymerase has one or more active sites at whichnucleotide binding and/or catalysis of nucleotide polymerization mayoccur. The polymerase may catalyze the polymerization of nucleotides tothe 3′ end of the first strand of the double stranded nucleic acidmolecule. For example, a polymerase catalyzes the addition of a nextcorrect nucleotide to the 3′ oxygen group of the first strand of thedouble stranded nucleic acid molecule via a phosphodiester bond, therebycovalently incorporating the nucleotide to the first strand of thedouble stranded nucleic acid molecule. Optionally, a polymerase need notbe capable of nucleotide incorporation under one or more conditions usedin a method set forth herein. For example, a mutant polymerase may becapable of forming a ternary complex but incapable of catalyzingnucleotide incorporation. The amount of polymerase in a fluid can bequantified in activity units. For example, a unit of polymerase can beequal to the amount of enzyme catalyzing the incorporation of 10 nmol ofdNTP into DNA in 30 min at a particular temperature. For example,thermostable polymerases can be measured at 75° C., whereas thermolabilepolymerases can be measured at 37° C.

As used herein, the term “predefined,” when used in reference to afunctional characteristic of a system, means that the characteristic isa known, predictable or expected result of a manipulation to the systemthat is intended to produce the characteristic. For example, foaminessof a fluid is a known and expected result of introducing bubbles into aliquid using a bubble generator such as a gas-liquid mixing system.Exemplary predefined characteristics of a system can optionally includethe rate at which a dispersed phase is formed in a bulk phase, theamount of dispersed phase that is introduced into a bulk phase, therelative ratio of dispersed phase and bulk phase that is produced by thesystem, the size of dispersed phase elements (e.g. bubbles, particles orglobules) that is produced by the system, or the like.

As used herein, the term “primed template nucleic acid” refers to anucleic acid hybrid having a double stranded region such that one of thestrands has a 3′-end that can be extended by a polymerase. The twostrands can be parts of a contiguous nucleic acid molecule (e.g. ahairpin structure) or the two strands can be separable molecules thatare not covalently attached to each other.

As used herein, the term “primer” refers to a nucleic acid having asequence that binds to a nucleic acid sequence at or near a templatesequence. Generally, the primer binds in a configuration that allowsreplication of the template, for example, via polymerase extension ofthe primer. The primer can be a first portion of a nucleic acid moleculethat binds to a second portion of the nucleic acid molecule, the firstportion being a primer sequence and the second portion being a primerbinding sequence (e.g. a hairpin primer). Alternatively, the primer canbe a first nucleic acid molecule that binds to a second nucleic acidmolecule having the template sequence (e.g. a dissociable primer). Aprimer can consist of DNA, RNA or analogs thereof. A primer can beblocked at the 3′ end or it can be extendable.

As used herein, the term “receptor” refers to a chemical group ormolecule (such as a protein) that has an affinity for another specificchemical group or molecule. Example receptors include proteins on orisolated from the surface or interior of a cell, antibodies orfunctional fragments thereof, lectins or functional fragments thereof,avidin, streptavidin, nucleic acids that are either single- ordouble-stranded, etc. A primed template nucleic acid molecule bound by apolymerase can serve as a receptor for a cognate nucleotide ligand.

As used herein, the term “site,” when used in reference to an array,means a location in an array where a particular molecule is present. Asite can contain only a single molecule, or it can contain a populationof several molecules of the same species (i.e. an ensemble of themolecules). Alternatively, a site can include a population of moleculesthat are different species (e.g. a population of ternary complexeshaving different template sequences). Sites of an array are typicallydiscrete. The discrete sites can be contiguous, or they can haveinterstitial spaces between each other. An array useful herein can have,for example, sites that are separated by less than 100 microns, 50microns, 10 microns, 5 microns, 1 micron, or 0.5 micron. Alternativelyor additionally, an array can have sites that are separated by at least0.5 micron, 1 micron, 5 microns, 10 microns, 50 microns or 100 microns.The sites can each have an area of less than 1 square millimeter, 500square microns, 100 square microns, 25 square microns, 1 square micronor less. The term “feature,” when used in reference to an array isintended to be synonymous with the term “site.”

As used herein, the term “solid support” refers to a rigid substratethat is insoluble in aqueous liquid. The substrate can be non-porous orporous. The substrate can optionally be capable of taking up a liquid(e.g. due to porosity) but will typically be sufficiently rigid that thesubstrate does not swell substantially when taking up the liquid anddoes not contract substantially when the liquid is removed by drying. Anonporous solid support is generally impermeable to liquids or gases.Exemplary solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass andmodified or functionalized glass, plastics (including acrylics,polystyrene and copolymers of styrene and other materials,polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutylene, polyurethanes, Teflon™,cyclic olefins, polyimides etc.), nylon, ceramics, resins, Zeonor™,silica or silica-based materials including silicon and modified silicon,carbon, metals, inorganic glasses, optical fiber bundles, and polymers.

As used herein, the term “substantially devoid” means being without aneffective or detectable amount of a particular thing or characteristic.For example, a fluid having no bubbles, bubbles that are too small ortoo few to be observed by a particular system, bubbles that are toosmall or too few to be observed in a particular method, or bubbles thatare too small or too few to have a significant effect on a reaction(e.g. on a binding reaction or sequencing reaction) can be characterizedas a fluid that is substantially devoid of bubbles. By way of anotherexample, a gas having no molecular oxygen (e.g. dioxygen (O₂), trioxygenor ozone (O₃), or singlet oxygen), a concentration of molecular oxygenthat is undetectable in a system or method set forth herein, or aconcentration of molecular oxygen that does not have a significanteffect on a reaction (e.g. on a binding reaction or sequencing reaction)can be characterized as a gas that is substantially devoid of molecularoxygen.

As used herein, the term “surface” refers to a portion of a solidsupport that contacts a fluid. The fluid can be gas or liquid. Thesurface can be substantially flat or planar. Alternatively, the surfacecan be rounded or contoured. Exemplary contours that can be included ona surface are wells, depressions, pillars, ridges, channels or the like.Exemplary materials that can be used as a solid support include, but arenot limited to, glass such as modified or functionalized glass; plasticsuch as acrylic, polystyrene or a copolymer of styrene and anothermaterial, polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutylene, polyurethane orTeflon™; nylon; nitrocellulose; resin; silica or silica-based materialsincluding silicon and modified silicon; carbon-fiber; metal; inorganicglass; optical fiber bundle, or the like.

As used herein, the term “ternary complex” refers to an intermolecularassociation between a polymerase, a double stranded nucleic acid and anucleotide. Typically, the polymerase facilitates interaction between anext correct nucleotide and a template strand of the primed nucleicacid. A next correct nucleotide can interact with the template strandvia Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding. The term “stabilized ternary complex”means a ternary complex having promoted or prolonged existence or aternary complex for which disruption has been inhibited. Generally,stabilization of the ternary complex prevents covalent incorporation ofthe nucleotide component of the ternary complex into the primed nucleicacid component of the ternary complex.

As used herein, the term “type” or “species” is used to identifymolecules that share the same chemical structure. For example, a mixtureof nucleotides can include several dCTP molecules. The dCTP moleculeswill be understood to be the same type (or species) of nucleotide aseach other, but a different type (or species) of nucleotide compared todATP, dGTP, dTTP etc. Similarly, individual DNA molecules that have thesame sequence of nucleotides are the same type (or species) of DNA,whereas DNA molecules with different sequences are different types (orspecies) of DNA. The term “type” or “species” can also identify moietiesthat share the same chemical structure. For example, the cytosine basesin a template nucleic acid will be understood to have the same type (orspecies) of base as each other independent of their position in thetemplate sequence.

The embodiments set forth below and recited in the claims can beunderstood in view of the above definitions.

The present disclosure provides a sequencing system that includes astage, a delivery component for a liquid phase, a delivery component fora second phase and a phase mixing component, wherein the liquid phase isimmiscible with the second phase, wherein the stage is configured toaccept a flow cell, wherein the liquid delivery component is configuredto deliver liquid from one or more reservoirs to the phase mixingcomponent, wherein the delivery component for the second phase isconfigured to provide the second phase to the phase mixing component,and wherein the phase mixing component is configured to mix liquids fromthe liquid delivery component with the second phase to deliver amixed-phase fluid to the inside of the flow cell, wherein themixed-phase fluid includes bubbles, globules or particles of the secondphase in the liquid.

Analytical systems of the present disclosure are tangible things, havingtangible components or subsystems. It will be understood that ananalytical system can include a combination of tangible and intangiblecomponents or subsystems. Alternatively, an analytical system can, insome configurations, be devoid of intangible components and subsystems.

A system can be configured as a monolithic apparatus, for example,containing all of the subsystems or components utilized for a particularpurpose within a single housing. Alternatively, one or more of thesubsystems or components described herein can be located remotely fromother components or conveniently separable from other components. Forexample, a nucleic acid sequencing system can include a fluidiccomponent and detection component that are maintained together in asingle housing, whereas a computer processing unit that is operablyconnected to the fluidic and detection components can physically residein a separate housing. Components that are separated or remote from eachother can nonetheless be functionally networked via hardware (e.g.fluidic lines, optical fibers or electrical lines) or wirelesscommunication.

A system of the present disclosure can be configured to use a flow cell.The flow cell is an apparatus that can include a detection channel wherean analytical reaction of interest can be observed. The analyticalreaction can occur in bulk solution within the flow cell. For example,two solutions can be mixed and the product of the mixture can beobserved in the detection channel. Alternatively, an analytical reactioncan occur on a solid support within the detection channel. For example,a reagent solution can be flowed over a solid support that is attachedto analytes of interest, such as nucleic acids, and a resulting reactioncan be observed on the solid support. A flow cell allows convenientfluidic manipulation by passing solutions through an ingress opening,into the detection channel and out of the interior via an egressopening. The detection channel also has an observation area or volumesuch as an optically transparent window through which optical signalscan be observed, an electrical contact through which electronic signalscan be observed or the like. A particularly useful flow cell has awindow that is transparent to excitation radiation and emissionradiation used for luminescence detection. Exemplary flow cells that canbe used for a system or method set forth herein are described, forexample, in US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010/0111768 A1, WO 05/065814 or USPat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0270305 A1, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

In some configurations, a reaction can occur in a first chamber, aproduct of the reaction can flow to a second chamber and the product canbe detected in the second chamber. The reaction can occur in thepresence of a mixed-phase fluid and/or the product of the reaction canbe transported from the first chamber to the second chamber via flow ofa mixed-phase fluid. The same or different mixed-phase fluid can be usedfor the reaction and the transport of the reaction product. In thisexample, the first and/or second chamber can be a flow cell. In someconfigurations, the first and second chambers can be in the same flowcell. Detection can occur in the presence of a mixed-phase fluid, in theabsence of a mixed-phase fluid, prior to delivery of a mixed-phase fluidor after removal of a mixed-phase fluid.

A flow cell or similar apparatus can have one or more detection channel.The detection channel(s) can be closed to atmosphere (or othersurrounding environment such as the local environment immediatelysurrounding the flow cell), for example, forming a tube or tunnel insideof the flow cell structure. The detection channel can have any of avariety of cross-sectional shapes including, for example, circular,oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polyhedral or other closedshapes. The cross-sectional area of the detection channel can be uniformover its length. For example, a detection channel having a circularcross-sectional area that is uniform over the length of the channel willhave a cylindrical shape, whereas a detection channel having a circularcross-sectional area that is increasing or decreasing over the length ofthe channel will have a conical or funnel shape. The cross-sectionalarea of a detection channel can be at least about 1 μm², 10 μm², 100μm², 1 mm², 10 mm², or 100 mm² or larger. Alternatively or additionally,the cross-sectional area of a detection channel can be at most about 100mm², 10 mm², 1 mm², 100 μm², 10 μm², 1 μm², or smaller. The volume of adetection channel in a flow cell can be at least about 1 nL, 10 nL, 100nL, 1 μL, 10 μL, 100 μL, 1 mL, 10 ml or more. Alternatively oradditionally, the volume of a detection channel in a flow cell can be atmost about 10 mL, 1 mL, 100 μL, 10 μL, 1 μL, 100 nL, 10 nL, 1 nL orless.

A flow cell of the present disclosure can have one or more openings fortransfer of fluids. In particular configurations, a first opening canfunction as an ingress for the fluids and a second opening can functionas an egress for the fluids. Alternatively, a flow cell can have asingle opening that functions as both an ingress and egress. The fluidcan be a liquid, gas or mixed-phase fluid. The flow cell can furtherinclude a region where analytes are detected. A fluid can flow into theflow cell via the ingress, then through the region and then out theegress to exit the flow cell. By way of illustrative example, the regioncan be examined or detected through a window in the flow cell. Forexample, an optical detector can observe an interior region of the flowcell through an optically transparent window of the flow cell. Theregion of the flow cell can be examined or observed by techniques otherthan optical techniques including, for example, detection techniques setforth herein. Accordingly, the flow cell can have a transmission surfacethat transmits signals from the region of the flow cell to theappropriate detector apparatus. It will be understood that a flow cellneed not be configured for detection of analytes. For example, the flowcell can provide a chamber for a reaction to occur and a product of thereaction can flow out of the flow cell for subsequent use or detection.Accordingly, a flow cell need not have an optically transparent windowor other surface that is configured for transmitting analytical signals.

In some configurations, a flow cell is a fixed component of a fluidicsystem, for example, requiring specialized tools and/or specializedtraining to remove. Alternatively, a flow cell can be a removablecomponent of a fluidic system. For example, a system of the presentdisclosure can include a stage that is configured for convenientplacement and removal of the flow cell. Thus, the flow cell can be aconsumable component that is dedicated for use in a first analyticaltest and then removed to be replaced by a second flow cell used for asecond analytical test. The two flow cells can be configured similarlyto each other, for example, containing similar analytes, similar samplesor sub-fractions of a particular sample. Alternatively, a first flowcell can be replaced with a second flow cell that is configureddifferently from the first. For example, the two flow cells can containdifferent samples or different types of analytes.

A stage can be configured for detection of a flow cell. The stage can bepositionally fixed or it can be translatable. For example, atranslatable stage can be moved, relative to a detector, linearly in oneor more directions defined by a Cartesian coordinate system. Forexample, a flow cell can be translated in one or more of a firstdirection (e.g. to scan a swath of a flow cell along they dimension), asecond direction (e.g. to shift the flow cell along the x dimension toalign a second swath of the flow cell for scanning), and a thirddirection (e.g. to move the flow cell along the z dimension to bring itinto the focus of a detector). Examples of translation stages are setforth in U.S. Pat. No. 8,951,781 or 10,227,636, each of which isincorporated herein by reference. Examples of positionally fixed stagesthat can be useful are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 9,650,669, which isincorporated herein by reference. A positionally fixed stage can beuseful when scanning detection is not used or when scanning is achievedby moving the detector instead of the flow cell. A fixed stage can alsobe configured to provide a reference surface that contacts a flow cellto align it with respect to a detector, wherein the flow cell is movedrelative to the reference surface, for example, by sliding the flow cellwhile it is in contact with the reference surface. Exemplary systemsthat are configured with a reference surface and with mechanisms forsliding a flow cell along the reference surface are set forth in US Pat.App. Pub. No. 2019/0055598 A1 or U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/807,934,each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Any of a variety of analytes can be present in a flow cell or othervessel set forth herein. The analytes can be contacted with amixed-phase fluid. The mixed-phase fluid can be flowing or static whilein contact with the analytes. Exemplary analytes include, but are notlimited to, the analytes exemplified herein or in references citedherein. Particularly useful analytes participate in nucleic acidsequencing processes. Accordingly, a flow cell can contain one or morenucleic acids, polymerases, polymerase inhibitors, polymerase cofactors(e.g. catalytic metal ions), ternary complex stabilizing agents (e.g.inhibitory metal ions), nucleotides, nucleic acid binding proteins,nucleotide deblocking reagents, or the like. Lithium or betaine can alsobe present, for example, in a formulation as set forth in U.S. Pat. No.10,400,272 (App. Ser. No. 16/355,361), which is incorporated herein byreference. Accordingly, the analytes can be reactants for, or productsof, a reaction such as those set forth herein.

Other analytes that can be present in a flow cell include, for example,biological tissues, biological cells; organelles; protein-based enzymes;protein-based receptors such as antibodies, lectins or streptavidin;peptides; RNA molecules; aptamers or the like. The contents of the flowcell can optionally be in contact with a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluidfoam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion). Exemplary protein-based enzymesthat can be used include, but are not limited to, polymerase,transposase, ligase, recombinase, kinase, phosphatase, exonuclease,endonuclease, sulfurylase, apyrase, luciferase, green fluorescentprotein (GFP), or phycobiliprotein (e.g. phycocyanin, allophycocyanin,or phycoerythrin). The contact can occur during all or part of ananalytical or synthetic process, such as those exemplified herein. Itwill be understood that one or more of the analytes set forth in thepresent disclosure or known in the art of biological or chemicalanalysis, can avoid contact with a mixed-phase fluid in one or moresteps of a method set forth herein.

In some aspects, a flow cell or other vessel is provided, the flow cellincluding a stabilized ternary complex immobilized inside the flow cell,wherein the stabilized ternary complex includes a polymerase, a primedtemplate nucleic acid and a next correct nucleotide for the template;and a mixed-phase fluid including a plurality of gas bubbles, liquidglobules or particles in a liquid, wherein the mixed-phase fluid is incontact with the stabilized ternary complex.

In some configurations of the methods set forth herein, such as somenucleic acid sequencing methods, a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) is used in some steps that employ astabilized ternary complex but not in other steps that employ astabilized ternary complex. In an exemplary configuration, a mixed-phasefluid does not contact a stabilized ternary complex until after thestabilized ternary complex has been detected. In this configuration, themixed-phase fluid can optionally be used to dissociate the stabilizedternary complex or otherwise remove it from the flow cell. A mixed-phasefluid may or may not be used to deliver one or more components thatparticipate in a stabilized ternary complex to a vessel such as a flowcell. Optionally a method can be configured such that it does notinclude any steps that contact a stabilized ternary complex with amixed-phase fluid.

A flow cell or other vessel that is used in a system or method of thepresent disclosure can include a polymerase. The polymerase can be incontact with a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry orfluid emulsion) during delivery to the flow cell or during one or moresteps of a method set forth herein. Any of a variety of polymerases canbe used in a method set forth herein. Reference to a particularpolymerase, such as those exemplified throughout this disclosure, willbe understood to include functional variants thereof unless indicatedotherwise. Particularly useful functions of a polymerase includeformation of a ternary complex, extension of a primer to introduce anucleotide (such as a reversible terminated nucleotide), or catalysis ofthe polymerization of a nucleic acid strand using an existing nucleicacid as a template.

Polymerases can be classified based on structural homology such as theclassification of polymerases into families identified as A, B, C, D, X,Y, and RT. DNA Polymerases in Family A include, for example, T7 DNApolymerase, eukaryotic mitochondrial DNA Polymerase γ, E. coli DNA PolI, Thermus aquaticus Pol I, and Bacillus stearothermophilus Pol I. DNAPolymerases in Family B include, for example, eukaryotic DNA polymerasesα, δ, and ε; DNA polymerase ζ; DNA polymerase; Phi29 DNA polymerase; andRB69 bacteriophage DNA polymerase. Family C includes, for example, theE. coli DNA Polymerase III alpha subunit. Family B archaeon DNApolymerases include, for example, Vent, Deep Vent, Pfu and 9° N (e.g.,Therminator™ DNA polymerase from New England BioLabs Inc.; Ipswich,Mass.) polymerases. Family D includes, for example, polymerases derivedfrom the Euryarchaeota subdomain of Archaea. DNA Polymerases in Family Xinclude, for example, eukaryotic polymerases Pol β, pot σ, Pol λ, andPol μ, and S. cerevisiae Pol4. DNA Polymerases in Family Y include, forexample, Pol η, Pol ι, Pol κ, E. coli Pol IV (DINB) and E. coli Pol V(UmuD'2C). The RT (reverse transcriptase) family of DNA polymerasesincludes, for example, retrovirus reverse transcriptases and eukaryotictelomerases. Exemplary RNA polymerases include, but are not limited to,viral RNA polymerases such as T7 RNA polymerase; Eukaryotic RNApolymerases such as RNA polymerase I, RNA polymerase II, RNA polymeraseIII, RNA polymerase IV, and RNA polymerase V; and Archaea RNApolymerase.

Further examples of useful DNA polymerases include bacterial DNApolymerases, eukaryotic DNA polymerases, archaeal DNA polymerases, viralDNA polymerases and phage DNA polymerases. Bacterial DNA polymerasesinclude E. coli DNA polymerases I, II and III, IV and V, the Klenowfragment of E. coli DNA polymerase, Clostridium stercorarium (Cst) DNApolymerase, Clostridium thermocellum (Cth) DNA polymerase and Sulfolobussolfataricus (Sso) DNA polymerase. Eukaryotic DNA polymerases includeDNA polymerases α, β, γ, δ, €, η, ζ, λ, σ, μ, and k, as well as the Revlpolymerase (terminal deoxycytidyl transferase) and terminaldeoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). Viral DNA polymerases include T4 DNApolymerase, phi-29 DNA polymerase, GA-1, phi-29-like DNA polymerases,PZA DNA polymerase, phi-15 DNA polymerase, Cp1 DNA polymerase, Cp1 DNApolymerase, T7 DNA polymerase, and T4 polymerase. Other useful DNApolymerases include thermostable and/or thermophilic DNA polymerasessuch as Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase, Thermus filiformis (Tfi)DNA polymerase, Thermococcus zilligi (Tzi) DNA polymerase, Thermusthermophilus (Tth) DNA polymerase, Thermus flavusu (Tfl) DNA polymerase,Pyrococcus woesei (Pwo) DNA polymerase, Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) DNApolymerase and Turbo Pfu DNA polymerase, Thermococcus litoralis (Tli)DNA polymerase, Pyrococcus sp. GB-D polymerase, Thermotoga maritima(Tma) DNA polymerase, Bacillus stearothermophilus (Bst) DNA polymerase,Pyrococcus Kodakaraensis (KOD) DNA polymerase, Pfx DNA polymerase,Thermococcus sp. JDF-3 (JDF-3) DNA polymerase, Thermococcus gorgonarius(Tgo) DNA polymerase, Thermococcus acidophilium DNA polymerase;Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DNA polymerase; Thermococcus sp. go N-7 DNApolymerase; Pyrodictium occultum DNA polymerase; Methanococcus voltaeDNA polymerase; Methanococcus thermoautotrophicum DNA polymerase;Methanococcus jannaschii DNA polymerase; Desulfurococcus strain TOK DNApolymerase (D. Tok Pol); Pyrococcus abyssi DNA polymerase; Pyrococcushorikoshii DNA polymerase; Pyrococcus islandicum DNA polymerase;Thermococcus fumicolans DNA polymerase; Aeropyrum pernix DNA polymerase;and the heterodimeric DNA polymerase DP1/DP2. Engineered and modifiedpolymerases also are useful in connection with the disclosed techniques.For example, modified versions of the extremely thermophilic marinearchaea Thermococcus species 9° N (e.g., Therminator™ DNA polymerasefrom New England BioLabs Inc.; Ipswich, Mass.) can be used.

Useful RNA polymerases include, but are not limited to, viral RNApolymerases such as T7 RNA polymerase, T3 polymerase, SP6 polymerase,and Kll polymerase; Eukaryotic RNA polymerases such as RNA polymerase I,RNA polymerase II, RNA polymerase III, RNA polymerase IV, and RNApolymerase V; and Archaea RNA polymerase.

Another useful type of polymerase is a reverse transcriptase. Exemplaryreverse transcriptases include, but are not limited to, HIV-1 reversetranscriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (PDB 1HMV), HIV-2reverse transcriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type 2, M-MLVreverse transcriptase from the Moloney murine leukemia virus, AMVreverse transcriptase from the avian myeloblastosis virus, andTelomerase reverse transcriptase that maintains the telomeres ofeukaryotic chromosomes.

A polymerase having an intrinsic 3′-5′ proofreading exonuclease activitycan be useful for some applications of the methods and systems set forthherein. Polymerases that substantially lack 3′-5′ proofreadingexonuclease activity are also useful in some configurations, forexample, in most sequencing systems and methods. Absence of exonucleaseactivity can be a wild type characteristic or a characteristic impartedby a variant or engineered polymerase structure. For example, exo minusKlenow fragment is a mutated version of Klenow fragment that lacks 3′-5′proofreading exonuclease activity. Klenow fragment and its exo minusvariant can be useful in a method or composition set forth herein.

Polymerases that may be used in a method or composition set forth hereininclude naturally occurring polymerases and modified variations thereof,including, but not limited to, mutants, recombinants, fusions, geneticmodifications, chemical modifications, synthetics, and analogs. Usefulpolymerases for ternary complex formation and detection are not limitedto polymerases that have the ability to catalyze a polymerizationreaction. Optionally, a useful polymerase will have the ability tocatalyze a polymerization reaction in at least one condition that is notused during formation or examination of a stabilized ternary complex.Exemplary polymerases that can be used to form a stabilized ternarycomplex include, for example, wild type and mutant polymerases set forthin US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2017/0314072 A1 or 2018/0155698 A1, or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/567,476, which claims priority to U.S.Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/732,510, each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Polymerases that contain an exogenous label moiety (e.g., an exogenousluminophore), which can be used to detect the polymerase, can be usefulin some embodiments. Optionally, the exogenous label moiety can bechemically linked to the polymerase, for example, using a freesulfhydryl or a free amine moiety of the polymerase. An exogenous labelmoiety can also be attached to a polymerase via protein fusion.Exemplary label moieties that can be attached via protein fusioninclude, for example, green fluorescent protein (GFP), phycobiliprotein(e.g. phycocyanin and phycoerythrin) or wavelength-shifted variants ofGFP or phycobiliprotein.

Polymerases can be present in a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) at a concentration that is at leastabout 1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 μM, 10 μM, 100 μM, or more. Alternativelyor additionally, the concentration of polymerases in a mixed-phase fluidcan be at most about 100 μM, 10 μM, 1 μM, 100 nM, 10 nM, 1 nM or less.Polymerase concentration can be determined based on activity units (U).For example, polymerases can be present in a mixed-phase fluid at aconcentration that is at least about 5 U/ml, 10 U/ml, 25 U/ml, 50 U/ml,75 U/ml, 100 U/ml or more. Alternatively or additionally, theconcentration of polymerases in a mixed-phase fluid can be at most about100 U/ml, 75 U/ml, 50 U/ml, 25 U/ml, 10 U/ml, 5 U/ml or less.

In some configurations of the methods set forth herein, such as somenucleic acid sequencing methods, a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) is used in some steps that employ apolymerase but not in other steps that employ a polymerase. In anexemplary configuration, a mixed-phase fluid does not contact apolymerase until after the polymerase has performed a particularfunction set forth herein. In this configuration, a mixed-phase fluidcan optionally be used to remove the polymerase from the flow cell. Amixed-phase fluid may or may not be used to deliver a polymerase to avessel such as a flow cell. In particular configurations, the polymerasethat may or may not contact a mixed-phase fluid in one or more steps ofa particular method is a labeled polymerase, a polymerase that is usedto form a stabilized ternary complex or a polymerase used for primerextension. Indeed, a method can be configured such that it does notinclude any steps that contact a particular polymerase (or a particulartype of polymerase) with a mixed-phase fluid.

A flow cell or other vessel that is used in a system or method of thepresent disclosure can include a nucleic acid. The nucleic acid can bein contact with a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry orfluid emulsion) during delivery to the flow cell or during one or moresteps of a method set forth herein. In some configurations, a singlenucleic acid molecule is to be manipulated or detected. The nucleic acidmolecule can be delivered to a vessel and can optionally be attached toa surface in the vessel. In some embodiments, the molecule is subjectedto detection under conditions wherein individual molecules are resolvedone from the other (e.g. single molecule sequencing). Alternatively,multiple copies of the nucleic acid can be made and the resultingensemble can be detected or sequenced. For example, the nucleic acid canbe amplified on a surface (e.g. on the inner wall of a flow cell) usingtechniques set forth in further detail below.

In multiplex embodiments, multiple different nucleic acid molecules(i.e. a population having a variety of different sequences) aremanipulated or detected. The molecules can optionally be attached to asurface in a flow cell or other vessel. The nucleic acids can beattached at unique sites on the surface and single nucleic acidmolecules that are spatially distinguishable one from the other can bedetected or sequenced in parallel. Alternatively, the nucleic acids canbe amplified on the surface to produce a plurality of surface attachedensembles. The ensembles can be spatially distinguishable from eachother and modified, detected or sequenced in parallel.

A method set forth herein can use any of a variety of nucleic acidamplification techniques in a flow cell or other vessel. Mixed-phasefluids can be used in one or more steps of a nucleic acid amplificationmethod set forth herein or known in the art. Exemplary techniques thatcan be used include, but are not limited to, polymerase chain reaction(PCR), rolling circle amplification (RCA), multiple displacementamplification (MDA), bridge amplification, or random prime amplification(RPA). Mixed-phase fluid can be used to deliver primers, templates orother amplification reagents such as those exemplified herein or inreferences cited herein. In particular embodiments, one or more primersused for amplification can be attached to a surface in a flow cell. Insuch embodiments, extension of the surface-attached primers alongtemplate nucleic acids will result in copies of the templates beingattached to the surface. Such amplification methods can be used foranalytical purposes such as real time PCR or quantitative PCR.Alternatively, amplification can be used to prepare nucleic acids fordownstream applications such as nucleic acid sequencing. Preparativeamplification methods that result in one or more sites on a solidsupport, where each site is attached to multiple copies of a particularnucleic acid template, can be referred to as “clustering” methods.

In PCR techniques, one or both primers used for amplification can beattached to a surface. Formats that utilize two species of attachedprimer are often referred to as bridge amplification because doublestranded amplicons form a bridge-like structure between the two attachedprimers that flank the template sequence that has been copied. Exemplaryreagents and conditions that can be used for bridge amplification aredescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,658 or 7,115,400; U.S.Patent Pub. Nos. 2002/0055100 A1, 2004/0096853 A1, 2004/0002090 A1,2007/0128624 A1 or 2008/0009420 A1, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference. PCR amplification can also be carried out with one of theamplification primers attached to the surface and the second primer insolution. An exemplary format that uses a combination of one solidphase-attached primer and a solution phase primer is known as primerwalking and can be carried out as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,476,080,which is incorporated herein by reference. Another example is emulsionPCR which can be carried out as described, for example, in Dressman etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100:8817-8822 (2003), WO 05/010145, orU.S. Patent Pub. Nos. 2005/0130173 A1 or 2005/0064460 A1, each of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

RCA techniques can be used in a method set forth herein. Exemplaryreagents that can be used in an RCA reaction and principles by which RCAproduces amplicons are described, for example, in Lizardi et al., Nat.Genet. 19:225-232 (1998) or US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0099208 A1, eachof which is incorporated herein by reference. Primers used for RCA canbe in solution or attached to a surface in a flow cell.

MDA techniques can also be used in a method of the present disclosure.Some reagents and useful conditions for MDA are described, for example,in Dean et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:5261-66 (2002); Lage etal., Genome Research 13:294-307 (2003); Walker et al., Molecular Methodsfor Virus Detection, Academic Press, Inc., 1995; Walker et al., Nucl.Acids Res. 20:1691-96 (1992); or U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,455,166; 5,130,238; or6,214,587, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Primersused for MDA can be in solution or attached to a surface in a flow cell.

Nucleic acid templates that are used in a method or composition hereincan be DNA such as genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, amplified DNA,complementary DNA (cDNA) or the like. RNA can also be used such as mRNA,ribosomal RNA, tRNA or the like. Nucleic acid analogs can also be usedas templates herein. Primers used herein can be DNA, RNA or analogsthereof.

A nucleic acid that is used in a method or apparatus herein can belinear, for example, being flanked by 3′ end and a 5′ end.Alternatively, a nucleic acid can be circular, thereby lacking a 3′ and5′ end. Whether linear, circular or in any other conformation, a nucleicacid that is used herein can have a size that is desired for aparticular use or that is a result of manipulations carried out on thenucleic acid. For example, a nucleic acid can have a length that is atleast 50 bases, 100 bases, 1×10³ bases, 1×10⁴ bases, 1×10⁵ bases, 1×10⁶bases or longer. Alternatively or additionally, the nucleic acid lengthcan be at most 1×10⁶ bases, 1×10⁵ bases, 1×10⁴ bases, 1×10³ bases, 100bases, 50 bases or shorter. When a population of nucleic acids is used,the average length for the population can have a lower and/or upperlimit selected from those ranges.

Exemplary organisms from which nucleic acids can be derived include, forexample, those from a mammal such as a rodent, mouse, rat, rabbit,guinea pig, ungulate, horse, sheep, pig, goat, cow, cat, dog, primate,human or non-human primate; a plant such as Arabidopsis thaliana, corn,sorghum, oat, wheat, rice, canola, or soybean; an algae such asChlamydomonas reinhardtii; a nematode such as Caenorhabditis elegans; aninsect such as Drosophila melanogaster, mosquito, fruit fly, honey beeor spider; a fish such as zebrafish; a reptile; an amphibian such as afrog or Xenopus laevis; a dictyostelium discoideum; a fungi such asPneumocystis carinii, Takifugu rubripes, yeast, Saccharamoycescerevisiae or Schizosaccharomyces pombe; or a Plasmodium falciparum.Nucleic acids can also be derived from a prokaryote such as a bacterium,Escherichia coli, staphylococci or Mycoplasma pneumoniae; an archae; avirus such as Hepatitis C virus or human immunodeficiency virus; or aviroid. Nucleic acids can be derived from a homogeneous culture orpopulation of the above organisms or alternatively from a collection ofseveral different organisms, for example, in a community or ecosystem.Nucleic acids can be isolated using methods known in the art including,for example, those described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: ALaboratory Manual, 3rd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York(2001) or in Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Md. (1998), each of which isincorporated herein by reference. Cells, tissues, biological fluids,proteins and other samples can be obtained from these organisms anddetected using an apparatus or method set forth herein.

A template nucleic acid can be obtained from a preparative method suchas genome isolation, genome fragmentation, gene cloning and/oramplification. The template can be obtained from an amplificationtechnique such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rolling circleamplification (RCA), multiple displacement amplification (MDA) or thelike. Amplification can also be carried out using a method set forth inSambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 3rd edition,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (2001) or in Ausubel et al.,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore,Md. (1998), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some configurations of the methods set forth herein, such as somenucleic acid sequencing methods, a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) is used in some steps that employ anucleic acid but not in other steps that employ a nucleic acid. In anexemplary configuration, a mixed-phase fluid does not contact a nucleicacid until after the nucleic acid has participated in a particularactivity or step set forth herein. In this configuration, a mixed-phasefluid can optionally be used to remove the nucleic acid from the flowcell. A mixed-phase fluid may or may not be used to deliver a nucleicacid to a vessel such as a flow cell. In particular configurations, thenucleic acid that may or may not contact a mixed-phase fluid in one ormore steps of a particular method is a template nucleic acid, a primernucleic acid, a single stranded nucleic acid, a double stranded nucleicacid (e.g. a primed template nucleic acid), a 3′ blocked nucleic acid(e.g. a 3′ reversibly terminated nucleic acid), or a fluorescentlylabeled nucleic acid. Indeed, a method can be configured such that itdoes not include any steps that contact a particular nucleic acid with amixed-phase fluid.

A flow cell or other vessel that is used in a system or method of thepresent disclosure can include an array of nucleic acids, proteins orother analytes. In particular configurations, stabilized ternarycomplexes are present at one or more sites of an array. The array ofanalytes can be in contact with a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) during one or more steps of a method setforth herein or in references cited herein.

Arrays provide an advantage of multiplex processing of analytes, wherebythe multiple different types of analytes are manipulated or detected inparallel. Although it is also possible to serially process differenttypes of analytes using one or more steps of the methods set forthherein, parallel processing can provide cost savings, time savings anduniformity of conditions. An array can include at least 2, 10, 100,1×10³, 1×10⁴, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁶, 1×10⁹, or more different analyte sites.Alternatively or additionally, an array can include at most 1×10⁹,1×10⁶, 1×10⁵, 1×10⁴, 1×10³, 100, 10, 2 or fewer, different analytesites.

An array can be attached to an inner surface of a flow cell wall or to asolid support inside of a flow cell. The flow cell or solid support canbe made from any of a variety of materials used for analyticalbiochemistry. Suitable materials may include glass, polymeric materials,silicon, quartz (fused silica), borofloat glass, silica, silica-basedmaterials, carbon, metals, an optical fiber or bundle of optical fibers,sapphire, or plastic materials. The material can be selected based onproperties desired for a particular use. For example, materials that aretransparent to a desired wavelength of radiation are useful foranalytical techniques that will utilize radiation at that wavelength.Conversely, it may be desirable to select a material that does not passradiation of a certain wavelength (e.g. being opaque, absorptive orreflective). Other properties of a material that can be exploited areinertness or reactivity to certain reagents used in a downstreamprocess, such as those set forth herein, or ease of manipulation, or lowcost of manufacture.

A particularly useful solid support for use in a flow cell or othervessel is a particle such as a bead or microsphere. Populations of beadscan be used for attachment of populations of analytes such as stabilizedternary complexes or components capable of forming the complexes (e.g.polymerases, templates, primers or nucleotides). In some configurations,each bead has a single type of stabilized ternary complex or a singletype of component capable of forming the complex or a single type ofsome other analyte set forth herein or in references cited herein. Forexample, an individual bead can be attached to a single type of ternarycomplex, a single type of template allele, a single type of templatelocus, a single type of primer, or a single type of nucleotide.Alternatively, different types of components need not be separated on abead-by-bead basis. As such, a single bead can bear multiple differenttypes of: ternary complexes, template nucleic acids, primers, primedtemplate nucleic acids and/or nucleotides. The composition of a bead canvary, depending for example, on the format, chemistry and/or method ofattachment to be used. Exemplary bead compositions include solidsupports, and chemical functionalities thereon, used in protein andnucleic acid capture methods. Such compositions include, for example,plastics, ceramics, glass, polystyrene, melamine, methylstyrene, acrylicpolymers, paramagnetic materials, thoria sol, carbon graphite, titaniumdioxide, controlled pore glass (CPG), latex or cross-linked dextranssuch as Sepharose™, cellulose, nylon, cross-linked micelles and Teflon™,as well as other materials set forth in “Microsphere Detection Guide”from Bangs Laboratories, Fishers Ind., which is incorporated herein byreference.

Beads can have a symmetrical shape, such as spherical, polyhedral,cylindrical or the like. Alternatively, beads can have an irregular ornon-symmetric shape. Exemplary sizes for beads used herein can haveaverage diameter that is at least about 10 nm, 100 nm, 1 μm, 5 μm, 10μm, 100 μm, 1 mm or larger. Alternatively or additionally, beads usedherein can have average diameter that is at most about 1 mm, 100 μm, 10μm, 5 μm, 1 μm, 100 nm, 10 nm, 1 nm or smaller. Beads in these sizeranges can be used as array features or as particles in a fluid slurry.The beads that are used as features of an array can be smaller than,larger than, or the same size as the beads that are used in a fluidslurry.

Exemplary compositions and techniques that can be used to make an arrayof beads include, without limitation, those used for BeadChip™ Arraysavailable from Illumina, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) those described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,266,459; 6,355,431; 6,770,441; 6,859,570; or 7,622,294;or PCT Publication No. WO 00/63437, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference. Beads can be located at discrete locations, such as wells,on a solid support, whereby each location accommodates a single bead.Alternatively, discrete locations where beads reside can each include aplurality of beads as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. App. Pub.Nos. 2004/0263923 A1, 2004/0233485 A1, 2004/0132205 A1, or 2004/0125424A1, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Other useful arrays include those that are used in nucleic acidsequencing applications. For example, arrays that are used to immobilizeamplicons of genomic fragments (often referred to as clusters) can beparticularly useful. Examples of nucleic acid sequencing arrays that canbe used herein include those described in Bentley et al., Nature456:53-59 (2008), PCT Pub. Nos. WO 91/06678; WO 04/018497 or WO07/123744; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,057,026; 7,211,414; 7,315,019; 7,329,492 or7,405,281; or U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0108082, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

A nucleic acid or other analyte can be attached to a support in a waythat provides detection at a single molecule level or at an ensemblelevel. For example, a plurality of different nucleic acids can beattached to a solid support in a way that an individual stabilizedternary complex that forms on one nucleic acid molecule on the supportcan be distinguished from all neighboring ternary complexes that form onthe nucleic acid molecules of the support. As such, one or moredifferent templates can be attached to a solid support in a format whereeach single molecule template is physically isolated and detected in away that the single molecule is resolved from all other molecules on thesolid support.

Alternatively, a method of the present disclosure can be carried out forone or more ensembles, an ensemble being a population of analytes of thesame type such as a population of nucleic acids having a common templatesequence. Cluster methods can be used to attach one or more nucleic acidensembles to a solid support. As such, an array can have a plurality ofensembles, each of the ensembles being referred to as a cluster or arraysite in that format. Clusters can be formed using methods known in theart such as bridge amplification, emulsion PCR or other methods setforth herein.

A flow cell or other vessel that is used in a system or method of thepresent disclosure can include a nucleotide. The nucleotide can be incontact with a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry orfluid emulsion) during delivery to the flow cell or during one or moresteps of a method set forth herein. The nucleotide can be a nativenucleotide, nucleotide analog or modified nucleotide as desired to suita particular application or configuration of the methods. Suchnucleotides can be present in a ternary complex or used in a sequencingmethod set forth herein.

Optionally, a nucleotide analog has a nitrogenous base, five-carbonsugar, and phosphate group, wherein any moiety of the nucleotide may bemodified, removed and/or replaced as compared to a native nucleotide.Nucleotide analogs may be non-incorporable nucleotides (i.e. nucleotidesthat are incapable of reacting with the 3′ oxygen of a primer to form acovalent linkage). Such nucleotides that are incapable of incorporationinclude, for example, monophosphate and diphosphate nucleotides. Inanother example, the nucleotide may contain modification(s) to thetriphosphate group that render the nucleotide non-incorporable. Examplesof non-incorporable nucleotides may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,120,which is incorporated by reference herein. In some embodiments,non-incorporable nucleotides may be subsequently modified to becomeincorporable. Non-incorporable nucleotide analogs include, but are notlimited to, alpha-phosphate modified nucleotides, alpha-beta nucleotideanalogs, beta-phosphate modified nucleotides, beta-gamma nucleotideanalogs, gamma-phosphate modified nucleotides, or caged nucleotides.Further examples of nucleotide analogs are described in U.S. Pat. No.8,071,755, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Nucleotide analogs that are used in a method, apparatus or system hereincan include terminators that reversibly prevent subsequent nucleotideincorporation at the 3′-end of the primer after the analog has beenincorporated into the primer. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,544,794 and8,034,923 (the disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein byreference) describe reversible terminators in which the 3′-OH group isreplaced by a 3′-ONH₂ moiety. Another type of reversible terminator islinked to the nitrogenous base of a nucleotide as set forth, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,808,989 (the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference). Other reversible terminators thatsimilarly can be used in connection with the methods described hereininclude those described in references cited elsewhere herein or in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,956,171, 8,071,755, and 9,399,798 (the disclosures of theseU.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference). In certainembodiments, a reversible terminator moiety can be removed from aprimer, in a process known as “deblocking,” allowing for subsequentnucleotide incorporation. Compositions and methods for deblocking areset forth in references cited herein in the context of reversibleterminators.

Alternatively, nucleotide analogs irreversibly prevent nucleotideincorporation at the 3′-end of the primer to which they have beenincorporated. Irreversible nucleotide analogs include 2′,3′-dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs such as ddGTP, ddATP, ddTTP, ddCTP).Dideoxynucleotides lack the 3′-OH group of dNTPs that would otherwiseparticipate in polymerase-mediated primer extension. Thus, the 3′position has a hydrogen moiety instead of the native hydroxyl moiety.Irreversibly terminated nucleotides can be particularly useful forgenotyping applications or other applications where primer extension orsequential detection along a template nucleic acid is not desired.

In particular embodiments, nucleotide analogs that are used herein, forexample, to participate in stabilized ternary complexes, do not includeblocking groups (e.g. reversible terminators) that prevent subsequentnucleotide incorporation at the 3′-end of the primer after the analoghas been incorporated into the primer. This can be the case whether ornot an extension step is carried out using nucleotide(s) having ablocking group (e.g. reversible terminator).

In some embodiments, a nucleotide that is used herein, for example, toparticipate in forming a stabilized ternary complex, can include anexogenous label. An exogenously labeled nucleotide can include areversible or irreversible terminator moiety, an exogenously labelednucleotide can be non-incorporable, an exogenously labeled nucleotidecan lack terminator moieties, an exogenously labeled nucleotide can beincorporable or an exogenously labeled nucleotide can be bothincorporable and non-terminated. Exogenously labeled nucleotides can beparticularly useful when used to form a stabilized ternary complex witha non-labeled polymerase.

Alternatively, a nucleotide that is used herein, for example, toparticipate in forming a ternary complex can lack exogenous labels (i.e.the nucleotide can be “non-labeled”). A non-labeled nucleotide caninclude a reversible or irreversible terminator moiety, a non-labelednucleotide can be non-incorporable, a non-labeled nucleotide can lackterminator moieties, a non-labeled nucleotide can be incorporable, or anon-labeled nucleotide can be both incorporable and non-terminated.Non-labeled nucleotides can be useful when a label on a polymerase isused to detect a stabilized ternary complex or when label-free detectionis used. Non-labeled nucleotides can also be useful in an extension stepof a method set forth herein. It will be understood that absence of amoiety or function for a nucleotide refers to the nucleotide having nosuch function or moiety. However, it will also be understood that one ormore of the functions or moieties set forth herein for a nucleotide, oranalog thereof, or otherwise known in the art for a nucleotide, oranalog thereof, can be specifically omitted in a method or compositionset forth herein.

Optionally, a nucleotide (e.g. a native nucleotide or nucleotide analog)is present in a mixture during or after formation of a stabilizedternary complex. For example, at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more nucleotidetypes can be present. Alternatively or additionally, at most 4, 3, 2, or1 nucleotide types can be present. Similarly, one or more nucleotidetypes that are present can be complementary to at least 1, 2, 3 or 4base types in a template nucleic acid. Alternatively or additionally,one or more nucleotide types that are present can be complementary to atmost 4, 3, 2, or 1 base types in a template nucleic acid. Different basetypes can be identifiable by the presence of different exogenous labelson the different nucleotides. Alternatively, two or more nucleotidetypes can have exogenous labels that are not distinguishable. In thelatter format the different nucleotides can nevertheless bedistinguished due to being separately delivered to a vessel or due to anencoding and decoding scheme as set forth, for example, in US Pat. App.Pub. No. 2018/0305749 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 9,951,385, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Nucleotides can be present in a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) at a concentration that is at leastabout 1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 μM, 10 μM, 100 μM, or more. Alternativelyor additionally, the concentration of nucleotides in a mixed-phase fluidcan be at most about 100 μM, 10 μM, 1 μM, 100 nM, 10 nM, 1 nM or less.The previous concentrations can apply to the concentration of a singletype of nucleotide that occurs in the fluid or to the totalconcentration of two or more types of nucleotide that occur in thefluid.

In some configurations of the methods set forth herein, such as somenucleic acid sequencing methods, a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) is used in some steps that employnucleotides but not in other steps that employ nucleotides. In anexemplary configuration, a mixed-phase fluid does not contact particularnucleotides until after the nucleotides have participated in aparticular activity or step set forth herein. In this configuration, amixed-phase fluid can optionally be used to remove the nucleotides fromthe flow cell. A mixed-phase fluid may or may not be used to delivernucleotides to a vessel such as a flow cell. In particularconfigurations, the nucleotides that may or may not contact amixed-phase fluid in one or more steps of a particular method arereversibly terminated nucleotides, reversibly terminated nucleotidesthat have exogenous labels, reversibly terminated nucleotides that arenot exogenously labeled, extendible nucleotides, extendible nucleotidesthat are exogenously labeled, extendible nucleotides that areexogenously labeled or other types of nucleotides set forth herein.Indeed, a method can be configured such that it does not include anysteps that contact a particular nucleotide (or particular type ofnucleotide) with a mixed-phase fluid.

Systems and methods of the present disclosure that employ opticaldetectors can further employ optically detectable labels on reactants orproducts that are to be detected. In many cases the labels are exogenouslabels added to a reactant or product, such as a polymerase, nucleicacid or nucleotide. Examples of useful exogenous labels include, but arenot limited to, radiolabel moieties, luminophore moieties, fluorophoremoieties, quantum dot moieties, chromophore moieties, enzyme moieties,electromagnetic spin labeled moieties, nanoparticle light scatteringmoieties, and any of a variety of other signal generating moieties knownin the art. Suitable enzyme moieties include, for example, horseradishperoxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, oracetylcholinesterase. Exemplary fluorophore labels include, but are notlimited to rhodols; resorufins; coumarins; xanthenes; acridines;fluoresceins; rhodamines; erythrins; cyanins; phthalaldehydes;naphthylamines; fluorescamines; benzoxadiazoles; stilbenes; pyrenes;indoles; borapolyazaindacenes; quinazolinones; eosin; erythrosin;Malachite green; CY dyes (GE Biosciences), including Cy3 (and itsderivatives), Cy5 (and its derivatives) and Cy7 (and its derivatives);DYOMICS and DYLIGHT dyes (Dyomics) including DY-547, DY-630, DY-631,DY-632, DY-633, DY-634, DY-635, DY-647, DY-649, DY-652, DY-678, DY-680,DY-682, DY-701, DY-734, DY-752, DY-777 and DY-782; Lucifer Yellow;CASCADE BLUE; TEXAS RED; BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene) (MolecularProbes) dyes including BODIPY 630/650 and BODIPY 650/670; ATTO dyes(Atto-Tec) including ATTO 390, ATTO 425, ATTO 465, ATTO 610 611X, ATTO610, ATTO 635; ALEXA FLUORS including ALEXA FLUOR 633, ALEXA FLUOR 647,ALEXA FLUOR 660, ALEXA FLUOR 700, ALEXA FLUOR 750, and ALEXA FLUOR 680(Molecular Probes); DDAO(7-hydroxy-9H-(1,3-dichloro-9,9-dimethylacridin-2-one or any derivativesthereof) (Molecular Probes); QUASAR dyes (Biosearch); IRDYES dyes(LiCor) including IRDYE 700DX (NHS ester), IRDYE 800RS (NHS ester) andIRDYE 800CW (NHS ester); EVOBLUE dyes (Evotech Biosystems); JODA 4 dyes(Applied Biosystems); HILYTE dyes (AnaSpec); MR121 and MR200 dyes(Roche); Hoechst dyes 33258 and 33242 (Invitrogen); FAIR OAKS RED(Molecular Devices); SUNNYVALE RED (Molecular Devices); LIGHT CYCLER RED(Roche); EPOCH (Glen Research) dyes including EPOCH REDMOND RED, EPOCHYAKIMA YELLOW, EPOCH GIG HARBOR GREEN; Tokyo green (M. Kamiya, et al.,2005 Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 44:5439-5441); and CF dyes including CF 647and CF555 (Biotium), and others known in the art such as those describedin Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Joseph R. Lakowicz (Editor),Plenum Pub Corp, 2nd edition (July 1999) and the 6th Edition ofMolecular Probes Handbook by Richard P. Hoagland.

A label can be attached to a nucleotide, polymerase or other moleculevia a linker. A linker that is present in a nucleotide or polymerase canbe, but need not be, cleavable. For example, the linker can be stable toconditions used in methods set forth herein such that the covalentstructure of the linker is not changed during any particular step, orthroughout all steps, of a method set forth herein.

In alternative embodiments, a reactant or product can lack exogenouslabels. For example, a stabilized ternary complex and all componentsparticipating in the stabilized ternary complex (e.g. polymerase,template nucleic acid, primer and/or cognate nucleotide) can lack one,several or all of the exogenous labels described herein or in thereferences that are cited and incorporated herein. In such embodiments,ternary complexes can be detected based on intrinsic properties of thestabilized ternary complex, such as mass, charge, intrinsic opticalproperties or the like. Exemplary methods for detecting non-labeledternary complexes are set forth in commonly owned U.S. Pat. App. Pub.No. 2017/0022553 A1 PCT App. Ser. No. PCT/US16/68916, or U.S. Pat. App.Ser. No. 62/375,379 or Ser. No. 15/677,870, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

A system or method of the present disclosure can use a bubble generatorcomponent to deliver gas to a liquid, thereby forming a fluid foam. Thebubble generator component can be configured to deliver a population ofbubbles having a desired size (e.g. measured as diameter or volume)and/or number (e.g. measured as concentration or count). In otherconfigurations, a system can include an emulsion generator to miximmiscible liquids or a slurry generator to mix particles with a liquid.

Bubbles can have a variety of sizes including for example smallnanobubbles having an effective diameter between about 1 nm and 100 nm,large nanobubbles having effective diameter larger than 100 nm andsmaller than 500 nm, small microbubbles having an effective diameterbetween about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, large microbubbles having an effectivediameter larger than 100 μm and smaller than 1 mm. Bubbles havingeffective diameter smaller than 500 μm, 250 μm, 100 μm, 50 μm, 40 μm, 30μm, 20 μm, 10 μm, 5 μm, or 1 μm can be useful, for example, due to theirrelative stability in liquids. Bubbles that are even smaller, forexample, having effective diameter smaller than 500 nm, 100 nm, 50 nm,or 10 nm can be useful due to increased stability and due to beingsmaller than the wavelengths of light typically used for luminescencedetection. Alternatively or additionally to these exemplary upperlimits, bubbles can have an effective diameter that is larger than 10nm, 50 nm, 100 nm, 500 nm, 1 μm, 5 μm, 10 μm, 25 μm, 50 μm, 100 μm, 250μm or 500 μm, as exemplary lower limits. A population of bubbles canhave an average diameter, average effective diameter, maximum diameteror minimum diameter that is delineated by one or both of the upper andlower limits exemplified above. Other mixed-phase fluids can containparticles or globules that are in the same or similar size ranges asthose exemplified above for bubbles.

It will be understood that the ‘effective’ diameter of a bubble is ameasure of the bubble in a spherical state. If the bubble is a pancake(e.g. squashed by the walls of a flow cell) or other shape, theeffective diameter of the pancake bubble will be understood to be ameasure of the diameter of the bubble when it is converted to aspherical state of the same volume. Similarly, the ‘effective’ diameterof a globule is a measure of the globule in a spherical state. If theglobule is a pancake (e.g. squashed by the walls of a flow cell) orother shape, the effective diameter of the pancake globule will beunderstood to be a measure of the diameter of the globule when it isconverted to a spherical state of the same volume.

In particular configurations, the bubbles in a fluid foam can have anaverage diameter, maximum diameter or minimum diameter that is measuredrelative to the dimensions of a detection channel at a particular regionof detection in a flow cell. Generally, it is preferable for the bubblesto be smaller than the detection channel of a flow cell through whichthe bubbles will flow. For example, the average effective diameter,maximum effective diameter or minimum diameter of the bubbles can be atmost 99%, 95%, 90%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 10%, 5%, 1%, 0.1% or 0.01% or less ofa relevant dimension of the detection channel region. Alternatively oradditionally, the average effective diameter, maximum effective diameteror minimum effective diameter of the bubbles can be at least 0.01%,0.1%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more of the relevantdimension of the detection channel at the point of detection. Therelevant dimension can be, for example, the width of the channel (e.g.the x dimension, wherein the y dimension is the direction of fluid flowand the z dimension is the depth of the channel or the focus dimensionfor optical detection through the channel). The relevant dimension canbe the depth of the channel in the z dimension or the relevant dimensioncan be along the y dimension. Other mixed-phase fluids can containparticles or globules that are in the same or similar size ranges asthose exemplified above for bubbles.

In some configurations, a bubble can form a bolus or slug that occupiesthe full cross-sectional area of a flow cell channel where the bubbleresides. A bubble slug or bolus can be useful to clear a particularfluid from a flow cell, such as a fluid that carries one or more of thereagents or analytes that occur in a method set forth herein. As such,different liquids that are delivered to a flow cell can be separated bya bubble slug or bolus. Although the cross-sectional area of the flowcell will confine the maximum cross-sectional area of the bubble bolusor slug, larger bubbles will be accommodated by being deformed by thechannel. As the volume of the bubble increases, the length of thechannel that the bubble occupies will increase. For example, a bubblebolus or slug can have a volume that in a non-deformed state (i.e.spherical shape) would have a maximum cross-sectional area that is atleast 1×, 2×, 5×, 10× or 100× larger than the cross-sectional area ofthe channel where it resides. Bubble slugs having larger volumes canprovide increased physical separation of two fluids. This can provideadvantages of reducing precision required for detection or fluiddelivery steps. Smaller volume bubble slugs can provide for separationof fluids while reducing the time that the flow cell surface is exposedto gas. This reduced exposure can be beneficial when an array, or otheractive flow cell surface, is sensitive to drying or other effects fromexposure to gas. A globule of liquid can form a slug or bolus havingsimilar sizes and properties as those exemplified for bubbles.

In some configurations, a bubble bolus can be used to clear all or partof a common fluid line that is upstream of a flow cell or other vessel.A bubble bolus can provide relatively rapid exchange of one fluidreagent for another in the common fluid line since the bubble bolusdrives out the first fluid and physically separates the two fluids toinhibit cross contamination that would occur if the two fluids were incontact while in the common fluid line. A bubble bolus can be deliveredto a common line, flow cell or other fluidic component using a bubblegenerator. An exemplary method is set forth below in the context of FIG.6.

A population of bubbles, globules or particles in a mixed-phase fluidcan be monodisperse or polydisperse. Monodisperse populations will haveuniform sized bubbles, globules or particles, for example, the sizecoefficient of variation (CV) being no more than 10%. In someconfigurations an even tighter uniformity can be useful including, forexample, the size CV being no more than 1% or 5% from the mean. The sizeCV for a polydisperse population of bubbles, globules or particles canrange, for example, from greater than 10% to at most about 25%, 50%,100%, 2-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 100-fold or more. In some situations, arelatively high degree of polydispersity occurs and as such the size CVfor the bubbles, globules or particles can be at least about 25%, 50%,75%, 100%, 2-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 100-fold or more. The sizes of thebubbles, globules or particles in a polydisperse population can range,for example, within a range set forth above.

The concentration of gas bubbles in a fluid foam can be selected for aparticular application. In some cases, the concentration of gas bubblesin a fluid foam can be controlled by a bubble generator component. Forexample, the concentration (i.e. volume fraction) of bubbles in a fluidfoam can be at least 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% 95%,99% or more of the total volume of the fluid foam in a particular vesselsuch as a detection channel of a flow cell. Increasing the volumefraction of bubbles in a fluid can provide an advantage in reducingreagent consumption without necessarily reducing the effectiveconcentration of the reagent in the foam compared to in the originalliquid reagent. This can provide a reduction in cost especially whenusing relatively expensive reagents. Example 1, below, provides ademonstration of reagent savings due to introduction of bubbles intovarious reagent solutions used for nucleic acid sequencing. Anotheradvantage of increasing the concentration of bubbles in a fluid foam isthe concomitant reduction in the volume of liquid to be shipped, stored,discarded or otherwise handled. An example can illustrate theseadvantages. A nucleic acid sequencing method that consumes 100 ml ofliquid polymerase solution can be configured to consume only 50 ml byintroducing bubbles into the liquid to create a foam that is 50% bubblesand 50% liquid polymerase solution. In another example, bubbles can beintroduced into a liquid reagent to increase the number of analytes thatare processed by the same volume of liquid reagent. More specifically, anucleic acid sequencing method that consumes 100 ml of liquid nucleotidesolution, to sequence arrayed nucleic acids in one lane of a flow cell,can be modified to sequence 2 lanes of the flow cell by introducingbubbles into the 100 ml volume of liquid nucleotide solution to create a200 ml volume of fluid foam that is 50% bubbles and 50% liquidnucleotide solution. Increasing the foam to a 75% bubble fraction canallow 4 lanes to be sequenced since 400 ml of nucleotide solution willbe produced at the same effective concentration as the originalnucleotide solution.

As an alternative or addition to the optional lower limits exemplifiedabove, the concentration of bubbles in a fluid foam can be at most 99%,95%, 90%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 10%, 5%, 1%, 0.1% or 0.01% or less of the totalvolume of the fluid foam in a particular vessel such as a detectionchannel of a flow cell. Reducing the bubble fraction can provide fordelivery of a larger amount of a particular reagent in the same volumeof fluid. Taking a nucleic acid sequencing method as an example, latercycles of the method may benefit from a larger quantity of polymerasereagent compared to earlier cycles due to a reduction in signal to noisethat occurs over the course of the method. In this example, the fractionof bubbles can be increased over the course of the method such that thepolymerase fluid is introduced to a flow cell with few to no bubbles andlater cycles have a larger bubble fraction. Reduction of bubble fractioncan be particularly advantageous when a substantial amount of thereagent in the fluid is consumed (e.g. when using a quantity of reagentthat is subsaturating in the method of use) because removal of bubbleswill result in a fluid having an increase in the effective amount ofreagent in a given fluid volume. Other mixed-phase fluids can containparticles or globules that are in the same or similar concentrationranges, or in the same fluid fraction ranges, as those exemplified abovefor bubbles.

A bubble generator can be configured to deliver fluid foams having avariety of bubble sizes, bubble concentrations or bubblepolydispersities, for example, in the ranges exemplified above.Alternatively or additionally, a bubble generator component can beconfigured to deliver a desired number of bubbles. For example, thebubble generator component can produce or deliver bubbles at a rate ofleast 1 sec⁻¹, 5 sec⁻¹, 10 sec⁻¹, 50 sec⁻¹, 100 sec⁻¹, 250 sec⁻¹, 500sec⁻¹ or more. Alternatively or additionally, the rate of bubbleproduction or delivery can be at most 500 sec⁻¹, 250 sec⁻¹, 100 sec⁻¹,50 sec⁻¹, 10 sec⁻¹, 5 sec⁻¹, 1 sec⁻¹, or lower. Again, a bubblegenerator component of the present disclosure can be configured togenerate a population of bubbles having a number of bubbles in a rangeexemplified above, and having bubble size in a range exemplified above.The rate of delivery for liquid globules or particles in a mixed-phasefluid can be in a range exemplified above for bubbles.

An exemplary bubble generator component that can be used to make a fluidfoam is shown in FIG. 1. Flow cell 100 includes two detection channels110 and 120 along with bubble generator components that are integratedinto the flow cell substrate 101. The detection channels can optionallyhave a length of a few centimeters to several centimeters (in thedirection of flow), a width of a few microns to several millimeters anddepth of few microns to several millimeters. For brevity, the fluidicpathways through detection channels 110 and 120 will be describedtogether with reference to channel 120 in parentheses. Liquid entersinlet 115 (125) and passes through liquid channel 114 (124) to a Tjunction 113 (123) that forms with gas channel 116 (126), the gas havingentered the system via inlet 117 (127). The gas channel 116 (126) has across sectional area that is smaller than the detection channel 110(120). The gas channel optionally is circular with a diameter betweenabout 1 micron and 200 microns, but can be larger in otherconfigurations, for example, up to 500 microns. The T junction can havea narrowed point to form a venturi where gas and liquid mixes to form afluid foam. The fluid foam then passes through the channel to enterdetection channel 110 (120) via connection 112 (122). The fluid foamthen exits the detection channel 110 (120) through egress 111 (121).

An alternatively configured flow cell is shown in FIG. 2. Flow cell 200includes two detection channels each of which is fed a fluid foam from aphase mixing component that is integrated into the flow cell substrate201. The upper detection channel 210 is fed fluid foam via a phasemixing component that has a Y junction 212 at the opening of thedetection channel 210. As such, liquid enters ingress 215 and flowsthrough channel 214 to the Y junction 212 where it mixes with gas thathas entered the flow cell via ingress 217 and then flows along channel216 to enter the Y junction 212. The fluid foam then passes throughdetection channel 210 and exits via egress 211. The lower detectionchannel 220 is fed fluid foam via a phase mixing component that has a Yjunction 223 upstream of the opening 222 of the detection channel 220.As such, liquid enters ingress 225 and flows through channel 224 to theY junction 223 where it mixes with gas that has entered the flow cellvia ingress 227 and along channel 226 to the Y junction 223. The fluidfoam then passes through the remainder of fluid channel 224, intodetection channel ingress 222, through detection channel 220 and exitsvia egress 221.

The Y junctions in flow cell 200 are formed from inlet channels thatmeet at an acute angle. For example, the fluid channels 214 and 216 forman acute angle at Y junction 212. The angle is relatively small comparedto the acute angle formed by intersection of channels 226 and 224 at Yjunction 223. The angle can be adjusted to produce desiredcharacteristics for the fluid foam such as average bubble size andbubble count (i.e. concentration of bubbles).

As exemplified by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bubblegenerator can be an integral part of a flow cell or other vessel. Inalternative configurations, a bubble generator can be a separate orseparable component relative to a flow cell or other vessel. An exampleof a bubble generator 300 that is separable from other fluidiccomponents is shown in FIG. 3. Bubble generator 300 includes a body 301having internal plumbing that is accessed by liquid inlet 315, gas inlet326 and foam outlet 311. A straight channel 314 connects liquid inlet315 to foam outlet 311. Gas inlet 326 connects to channel 314 viachannel 316, the two channels forming a T junction 323. Gas flowing fromgas inlet 326 can be introduced to liquid flowing from liquid inlet 315at T junction 323 to form a fluid foam that flows out foam outlet 311.Channel 314 narrows at locations 330 and 331 to create narrowed region310. The T junction 323 occurs in the narrowed region 310 of straightchannel 314. A gas source can be connected to bubble generator 300 viathreaded coupling 326. The threads 325, being internal, form a femalefitting that is configured to accept a threaded male connector for a gasline. It will be understood that connection of a gas line to the bubblegenerator 300 can employ opposite fittings (i.e. male fitting on thebubble generator and female fitting on the gas line) or non-threadedfittings. For example, connection can employ pressure fitting, pipefitting, adhesive-mediated fitting, clamping or other fittings known inthe arts of fluidics and plumbing. A liquid line can be connected toinlet 315 via fitting 302. For example, fitting 302 forms a male fittingthat can insert into a flexible tube to create a connection. Similarconnection can be made for fitting 303 to transfer foam from egress 311to a flow cell or other fluidic component.

FIG. 4 shows a bubble generator 400 having body 401 and an internal Tjunction 423 that is configured similarly to the one shown in FIG. 3. Tjunction 423 connects channel 414 with channel 416 such that gasintroduced via gas inlet 426 can combine with liquid introduced fromliquid inlet 415 to create a foam that flows out foam outlet 411.Channel 414 narrows at locations 430 and 431 to create narrowed region410. The gas inlet fitting 426 and foam outlet fitting 403 are similarto those in FIG. 3. A gas source can be connected to bubble generator400 via threaded coupling 426. The threads 425, being internal, form afemale fitting that is configured to accept a threaded male connectorfor a gas line. The fitting 402 for the liquid inlet is a male, threadedfitting. The threaded fitting can provide for convenient connection to afluid line; however, other types of fittings can be used instead such asthose exemplified above in the context of FIG. 3.

A bubble generator need not necessarily employ a T junction (i.e. wherea gas carrying channel intersects a linear channel at an orthogonalangle, the linear channel having a fluid ingress at one end and a foamegress at the other end). Rather, channels can intersect atnon-orthogonal angles. The angle of intersection can be configured toachieve desired properties of a foam for a particular use. In anotheralternative, a T junction can be configured such that a liquid-carryingchannel intersects a linear channel at an orthogonal angle, the linearchannel having a gas ingress at one end and a foam egress at the otherend.

FIG. 5 shows a bubble generator 500 having a Y junction 518. Gas flowsto Y junction 518 from gas inlet 526, where it contacts liquid flowingthrough channel 514 from liquid inlet 515. The resulting foam flowsthrough channel 513 and out foam outlet 511. Channels 514 and 513 arecurved but can be linear. Bubble generator 500 includes a threadedfemale fitting 525 for gas inlet 526, a non-threaded male fitting 502for the liquid inlet 515 and a non-threaded male fitting 503 for thefoam outlet 511. Bubble generator 500 includes a filter membrane 550having a pattern of holes 551 in a hydrophobic material 552 thatfunctions as a gas diffuser. The membrane 550 can be placed within thebarrel of gas inlet 526.

The membrane 550 shown in FIG. 5 is exemplary. The membrane isconfigured to function as an array of holes that experiences aYoung-Laplace pressure drop. The Young-Laplace equation is a nonlinearpartial differential equation that describes the capillary pressuredifference sustained across the interface between two static fluids,such as a liquid and a gas, due to the phenomenon of surface tension.The equation can also describe the capillary pressure differencesustained across the interface between two static fluids due to thephenomenon of wall tension if the wall is very thin. The Young-Laplaceequation relates the pressure difference to the shape of the surface orwall. It is a statement of normal stress balance for static fluidsmeeting at an interface, where the interface is treated as a surface(zero thickness):

$\begin{matrix}{{\Delta \; p} = {{- \gamma}\; {\nabla{\cdot \hat{n}}}}} \\{= {2\; \gamma \; H}} \\{= {\gamma ( {\frac{1}{R_{1}} + \frac{1}{R_{2}}} )}}\end{matrix}$

For Equation 1 above, Δp is the Laplace pressure, the pressuredifference across the fluid interface; γ is the surface tension (or walltension), n{circumflex over ( )} is the unit normal pointing out of thesurface, H is the mean curvature, and R₁ and R₂ are the principal radiiof curvature. The Young-Laplace equation can also be used for creatingor evaluating emulsions. Membrane 550, or a similar apparatus, can beused in other bubble generators set forth herein including, for example,those employing structural or functional elements shown in FIGS. 1through 4.

The membrane thickness can be any that achieves the desiredcharacteristics for the mixed phase fluid. For example, the membrane canhave a thickness of at least 100 nm, 500 nm, 1 μm, 10 μm, 100 μm, 500 μmor thicker. The upper limit of membrane thickness can be determinedbased on desired characteristics of the mixed phase fluid. For example,as an alternative or addition to the exemplary lower end of the rangeset forth above, the thickness can be at most 500 μm, 100 μm, 10 μm, 1μm, 500 nm, 100 nm or less. Of course, the use of a membrane is anoption. In some configurations the phase mixing component can lack amembrane.

As an alternative or addition to adjusting membrane thickness, thenumber, size, and pitch of the holes in the membrane can be adjusted toprovide a foam or emulsion having desired properties. Generally, a holesize between 1 micron and 80 microns can be useful for providing a meansto control bubble fraction or droplet fraction via differences in gaspressure and oil flow rate, respectively. For example, changing gaspressure in the range of 15 to 50 psi for gas passing through a membranewith 1 μm holes provides control of bubble fraction and polydispersity.When the membrane has 5 μm holes instead, the range of gas pressure thatprovides control of bubble fraction and polydispersity is 5 to 30 psi.Although a membrane having 80 μm holes is capable of producing bubbles,the bubble fraction and polydispersity will be less responsive tochanges in gas pressure. Accordingly, membranes having holes smallerthan about 80 microns are generally preferred, for example, inconfigurations where variable control of foam or emulsioncharacteristics is desired. Larger hole sizes can be used whenvariability in foam or emulsion characteristics is to be minimized.

The average pitch for a collection of holes in a membrane can be any ofa variety of lengths including, for example, at least 1 μm, 5 μm, 10 μm,25 μm, 50 μm, 100 μm or more. Alternatively or additionally, the pitchfor the hole sin particular membrane can optionally be at most 100 μm,50 μm, 25 μm, 10 μm, 5 μm, 1 μm or less. Generally increasing the pitchfor the holes can provide increased responsiveness of bubble fraction(or droplet fraction) and polydispersity to the pressure of the gasbeing applied (or to the flow rate of the oil being applied). Decreasingthe pitch may be desirable when less variability in emulsion and foamcharacteristics is desired.

Other properties of the membrane can also affect characteristics of thefoam or emulsion. For example, a hydrophobic material is generallypreferred for the membrane. Exemplary materials that can be used for themembrane include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate andpolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Another exemplary characteristic is thesurface area of the membrane. A larger surface area between the gasphase and liquid phase has been observed to provide greater control ofgas fraction and bubble polydispersity in a foam generator. The area fora membrane that is used to produce a foam or emulsion can be at leastabout 10 μm², 50 μm², 100 μm², 500 μm², or 1 mm² or more. Alternativelyor additionally, the area for a membrane that is used to produce a foamor emulsion can be at most about 1 mm², 500 μm², 100 μm², 50 μm², 10μm², or less.

The gas resisting membranes set forth above are optional and need not beused. Whether a gas resisting membrane is used or not. The size of theair inlet that intersects the liquid line at a phase mixing junction canbe from a few microns in size up to several hundred microns. Forexample, the junction for a phase mixing apparatus can have a crosssection that is in the ranges set forth above for the surface area ofthe membranes set forth above.

The mixing systems exemplified in FIGS. 1 through 5, or modifiedversions thereof, can be used for producing a fluid emulsion or fluidslurry. For example, the gas channel can be used to deliver a secondfluid that is immiscible with the liquid in the liquid line, therebyproducing an emulsion. In another example, the gas channel can be usedto deliver particles, for example, in a carrier fluid, thereby producinga fluid slurry.

Any of a variety of bubble generator systems can be used for generatingbubbles such as those set forth in Garstecki et al., Bulletin of thePolish Academy of Sciences 53: 361-372 (2005), which is incorporatedherein by reference. In particular configurations, a channel junctioncan be used to introduce gas bubbles into a liquid. In this geometry thegas is fed into a main channel that carries the liquid. The liquid wetsthe walls of the channel preferentially, and as the gas phase enters themain duct, it breaks into bubbles. Another exemplary bubble generatoruses geometries in which liquid is forced through a narrow constrictionin the main channel, and the gas—dispensed from a nozzle located closelyupstream of the constriction—is focused into this orifice by theconverging streamlines of the liquid. Useful bubble generators includethose known in the art as bubble injectors, emulsifiers (e.g.,ultrasonic emulsifiers), venturi injectors and bubble diffusers.

In some configurations, a mixed-phase fluid can be formed in a fluidicsystem at a location that is downstream of a liquid reservoir (e.g. aliquid reservoir containing a nucleic acid sequencing reagent) andupstream of a vessel used for analytical detection or synthetic reaction(e.g. flow cell containing an array of nucleic acids to be sequenced).This configuration provides an advantage of avoiding relatively largereservoirs to accommodate the mixed-phase fluid volume compared to thevolume of the liquid phase alone. Introducing a dispersed phasedownstream of a reservoir can also reduce damage to a reagent that issensitive to the material of the dispersed phase. As such, the half-lifeof the sensitive reagent can be increased compared to a configurationwhere the reagent would have been maintained in a reservoir where it isin contact with the dispersed phase. In alternative configurations,bubbles can be introduced into reservoirs that contain various liquidsto produce fluid foam in the reservoirs prior to transferring theliquids out of the reservoir.

A bubble generator component can be configured to adjust one or more ofthe following parameters to produce a fluid foam having desiredproperties. Bubble size, stability, polydispersity and number can beselected by adjusting the pressure applied to the gas stream, the rateof flow of the liquid, the dynamic viscosity of the liquid and/or theinterfacial tension between the two phases. The pressure applied to thegas stream can be adjusted by a gas flow regulator or by a valve. Thegeometry of the gas line, geometry of the liquid line, geometry of thejunction between the lines and/or the relative rate of gas flow andliquid flow through the lines can also be adjusted to influence bubblesize, stability and number. Similarly, the size, number, polydispersityand stability of globules in a fluid can be selected by adjusting theflow rates of the two phases, the dynamic viscosity of the phases and/orthe interfacial tension between the two phases in a phase mixingcomponent.

The flow of liquid can be adjusted by adjusting the force (e.g. pressureor fluid displacement force) applied to the liquid and/or via a valve.Flow rate ranges can optionally be in the range of 10 μl/s to 100 μl/s.A slower flow rate for a particular liquid phase can be used to producea fluid foam having a relatively high volume fraction ratio of gas toliquid, and the flow rate for the liquid phase can be increased in orderto produce a foam having a lower volume fraction ratio of gas to liquid.A gas stream can be turned on and off to produce a fluid foam ornon-foam fluid, respectively. It has been observed that fluid foam willproduce increased back pressure as the gas fraction in the foamincreases. The relationship between gas fraction and backpressure canproduce a stabilizing effect. In this regard, increased back pressuredecreases gas flow rate which decreases the gas fraction which decreasesthe back pressure. This inverting circle of interactions can beexploited as a negative feedback which stabilizes the gas flow rate (andbubble fraction).

Similarly, the flow of immiscible liquid or particles can be turned onto produce a fluid emulsion or fluid slurry and turned off to deliver asingle-phase liquid. As such, a phase mixing component or bubblegenerator component can be configured to pass liquids from any of avariety of reservoirs in a system to the flow cell, whether or not theliquids will be converted to a mixed-phase fluid prior to entering theflow cell. In an alternative configuration, liquids that are to beconverted to a mixed-phase fluid pass through the phase mixing componentor bubble generator component, whereas liquids that will not beconverted to a mixed-phase fluid are routed to the flow cell withoutpassing through the phase mixing component or bubble generatorcomponent.

A mixed phase fluid can flow into and out of a flow cell in a singledirection. Alternatively, the mixed phase fluid can be toggled in andout of a flow cell, for example, to achieve mixing or to dislodgeunwanted materials. Toggling can be achieved by changing the directionof force (e.g. pressure or fluid displacement force) placed on the mixedphase fluid. For example, a single pressure source can alternative fromapplying positive pressure to applying negative pressure at a particularpoint in the fluidic system. Similarly, a fluid displacement apparatuscan alternative from displacing fluid in a first direction to displacingfluid in the opposite direction at a particular point in the fluidicsystem. Alternatively, two or more sources for applying pressure orfluid displacement can be used. For example, a first pump can applypressure or fluid displacement to the fluidic system on a first side ofthe flow cell and a second pump can apply pressure or fluid displacementto the fluidic system on a second side of the flow cell. The pumps canapply positive pressure, negative pressure or both. Toggling can beachieved by alternately applying positive pressure from both pumps or,conversely, toggling can be achieved by alternately applying negativepressure from both pumps. Similarly, toggling can be achieved byalternately displacing fluids in opposing directions from both pumps. Anexample of toggling (also referred to as ‘wiggling’) of a fluid foam isprovided in Example 1, below.

A system of the present disclosure can include a heater or chiller thatis configured to control the temperature of a material that is used toproduce a dispersed phase in a mixed-phase fluid. For example, a heatercan be used to raise the temperature of a gas that is used to producebubbles in a fluid foam, a liquid that is used to produce droplets in afluid emulsion or particles that are used to produce a fluid slurry. Theheated dispersed phase will have high contact area with the bulk phaseand as such can be quite efficient at heating the bulk phase. In otherexamples, a chiller can be used to lower the temperature of a gas thatis used to produce bubbles in a fluid foam, a liquid that is used toproduce droplets in a fluid emulsion or particles that are used toproduce a fluid slurry. Again, due to high contact area between thedispersed phase and the bulk phase, cooling can be achieved efficiently.

A heater or chiller can be positioned to control temperature of thematerials when they are present in a fluid reservoir, fluid deliverychannel, vessel or other fluidic component. In particularconfigurations, the location of heating or chilling can be downstream ofa fluid reservoir and upstream of a phase mixing component.Alternatively or additionally, heating or chilling can occur at thelocation where phase mixing occurs (i.e. at the location of the phasemixing component). As such, a liquid reagent can be stored in areservoir at a first temperature (e.g. a temperature that providesstability) and the temperature of a subfraction of the reagent can bealtered later for use in a downstream process.

When the desired temperature for a mixed-phase fluid is higher than thetemperature of the liquid phase from which it is formed, the materialthat will form the dispersed phase (e.g. gas, solid or immiscibleliquid) can be heated to a temperature that is higher than the desiredtemperature. For example, the heater can have a set point that is atleast about 5° C., 10° C., 15° C. or higher than the desired temperatureof the fluid in a downstream flow cell. More specifically, the heaterthat is upstream of the flow cell can have a set point that is higherthan the set point for a heater or chiller that regulates thetemperature of the flow cell. The temperature differential can beselected to account for cooling that may happen for the mixed-phasefluid while it travels to the flow cell. The temperature differentialcan be selected based on the heat capacity of the mixed-phase, the levelof insulation for the fluidic components, the temperature differentialbetween ambient temperature and the flow cell, and the time for themixed-phase fluid will spend between heating and use in the flow cell.

When the desired temperature for a mixed-phase fluid is lower than thetemperature of the liquid phase from which it is formed, the materialthat will form the dispersed phase (e.g. gas, solid or immiscibleliquid) can be chilled to a temperature that is lower than the desiredtemperature. For example, the chiller can have a set point that is atleast about 15° C., 10° C., 5° C. or lower than the desired temperatureof the fluid in a downstream flow cell. More specifically, the chillerthat is upstream of the flow cell can have a set point that is lowerthan the set point for a heater or chiller that regulates thetemperature of the flow cell. The temperature differential can beselected to account for heating that may happen for the mixed-phasefluid while it travels to the flow cell. The temperature differentialcan be selected based on properties similar to those exemplified abovefor heating.

In some configurations, the liquid phase that will form the bulk phase(e.g. the liquid phase that carries reagents, analytes or the like) canbe heated or chilled. Alternatively or additionally, a mixed-phase fluidcan be heated or chilled downstream of a phase mixing componentincluding, for example, in fluidic lines that deliver the mixed phasefluid to a flow cell and/or in the lanes of a flow cell or other vessel.

Heating or chilling can be achieved using any of a variety of heattransfer mechanisms including, but not limited to, Joule heating,convection, Peltier control, or radiation. Apparatus and systems forheating or chilling fluids upstream of a flow cell and that can bemodified for use with mixed-phase fluids are set forth in U.S. Pat. App.Ser. No. 62/782,565, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Valves, heaters, chillers or other elements of a phase mixing componentor bubble generator component can be controlled by a control module.Exemplary configurations for a control module are set forth in furtherdetail below. By way of example, the control module can be programmed toopen a valve to allow gas, a dispersable liquid or particles to mix witha dispersion liquid, thereby delivering a mixed-phase fluid to the flowcell and the control module can also be programmed to close the valve todeliver a single-phase fluid to the flow cell. In this example, themixed-phase fluid can contain a reagent that modifies nucleic acidsduring a sequencing reaction. This fluid can be removed and replaced bythe single-phase (e.g. non-foam, non-emulsion or non-slurry) fluid toallow optical detection of the nucleic acid. Removal of bubbles,globules or particles improves detection accuracy by avoiding opticalscattering that would occur in the mixed-phase fluid.

The interior surfaces of the fluidic lines in the bubble generatorcomponent and the flow cell channel can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic.The surface can thus be adjusted to reduce or prevent bubbles, globulesor particles from sticking to the surfaces. When using aqueous liquid itcan be beneficial to use components (e.g. flow cells and tubes) havinghydrophilic surfaces. Hydrophilicity helps to prevent bubbles fromattaching to the surfaces. Surfactants can be included in a foam tofurther inhibit bubbles from attaching to surfaces. Particularly usefulsurfaces are made from cyclic olefin copolymer (COP) which demonstratesuseful hydrophilic character when in contact with aqueous solutions thatcontain surfactants.

Liquids can be delivered to a phase mixing component, bubble generatorcomponent and/or flow cell under pressure or other fluid displacingforce. Typically, liquids are delivered under positive pressure orpositive fluid displacement (e.g. pushing force), but in someconfigurations negative pressure or negative fluid displacement (e.g.pulling force) can be used. Useful pumps include, for example, thosethat induce hydrodynamic fluidic pressure, such as those that operate onthe basis of mechanical principles (e.g. external syringe pumps,pneumatic membrane pumps, vibrating membrane pumps, vacuum devices,centrifugal forces, piezoelectric/ultrasonic pumps peristaltic pumps,and acoustic forces); electrical or magnetic principles (e.g.electroosmotic flow, electrokinetic pumps, ferrofluidic plugs,electrohydrodynamic pumps, attraction or repulsion using magnetic forcesand magnetohydrodynamic pumps); gravity; electrostatic forces (e.g.,electroosmotic flow); centrifugal flow (substrate disposed on a compactdisc and rotated); magnetic forces (e.g., oscillating ions causes flow);magnetohydrodynamic forces; and vacuum or pressure differential.

The liquids that are used in a method or system set forth herein can beformulated to include desired reactive reagents including, for example,those set forth below in the context of sequencing processes. The liquidreagents can be stored in reservoirs. For example, one or morereservoirs in a system set forth herein can contain polymerases,nucleotides, nucleic acids, deblocking reagents, polymerase cofactors,polymerase inhibitors, ternary complex stabilizing agents or the like.

One or more of the liquids can further contain surfactants, for example,to inhibit bubbles, particles or globules from coalescing when theliquid is used to produce a mixed-phase fluid. Surfactants can beanionic, cationic, non-ionic or zwitterionic. Exemplary surfactantsinclude, but are not limited to, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Tween-20(polysorbate 20), Tween-80 (polysorbate 80), cetrimonium bromide,cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Triton X-100, CHAPS, or NP-40.Amphoteric surfactants such as betaines or sulfobetaines can be useful.Surfactants can help to stabilize bubbles in a fluid foam. Surfactantscan also help stabilize other components of a foam, or other mixed-phasefluid, such as proteins or nucleic acids. A relatively low concentrationof surfactant can be useful in a mixed-phase fluid. For example, amixed-phase fluid can contain at least 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%,1%, 5% or more surfactant. For some uses, the amount of surfactant willbe limited, for example, to prevent unwanted interactions with othercomponent in a mixed-phase fluid. For example, the concentration ofsurfactant in a mixed fluid phase fluid can be at most 5%, 1%, 0.5%,0.1%, 0.05%, 0.01%, 0.005% or less surfactant.

Alternatively or additionally to the presence of surfactants, one ormore of the liquids can contain solutes that increase or decreaseviscosity. For example, viscosity can be increased by addition ofpolyols or sugars such as glycerol, erythritol, agarose, arabitol,sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, mannisdomannitol, glucosylglycerol,glucose, fructose, sucrose, trehalose, methylcellulose,hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystallinecellulose, xanthan gum, (+)-arabinogalactan (e.g. from Larch wood),maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent 4.0-7.0), maltodextrin (dextroseequivalent 13.0-17.0), maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent 16.5-19.5),locust bean gum, carrageenan, gum Arabic (e.g. from acacia tree),isinglass, or isofluoroside; or polymers such as dextrans, levans,gelatin or polyethylene glycol. Polyethylene glycol, long gelatins,short gelatins, soluble starches, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), long chainalcohols, alginates, tragacanth, bentonite, carbomer, and nanoparticlescan also be useful to stabilize bubbles. Rheology modifiers can beuseful for adjusting the flow properties of a foam. Examples include,but are not limited to, short carbohydrates, long carbohydrates,proteins, ionic surfactants non-ionic surfactants, water solublefluorocarbon surfactants and salts.

A gas delivery component will typically be configured to deliver gas toa bubble generator component or flow cell under positive pressure.However, in some configurations, gas can be delivered under negativepressure. Inert gases such as N₂ or noble gases are particularlybeneficial because they will have reduced risk of adversely interactingwith biological components such as enzymes and nucleic acids. In someconfigurations, a system of the present disclosure, and in particularthe gas delivery component, will be configured to prevent molecularoxygen from entering a fluid foam. For example, the system and itsfluidic components can be configured to exclude atmospheric oxygen. Assuch the gas bubbles in a fluid foam can be substantially devoid ofmolecular oxygen. For example, the bubbles in a fluid foam can containless than 20%, 10%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 100 ppm, 10 ppm or less of molecularoxygen. Alternatively, a system or gas delivery component can beconfigured to deliver molecular oxygen or atmospheric oxygen if desiredfor a particular application. In some configurations, the gas isatmospheric air, which can optionally be filtered prior to entering theliquid stream. Filtering can be used for air or other gases to removeparticulates and other impurities.

An exemplary fluidic circuit that includes a bubble generator(“bubbler”) for delivering a foam to a flow cell is shown in FIG. 6. Aliquid reservoir contains a reagent or other liquid and is open to theatmosphere (ATM). The liquid can be delivered to a bubble generatorunder the force of a volumetric pump. Atmospheric air (ATM) is deliveredto the bubble generator (Bubbler) under the force of a regulated gaspressure source. The fluidic circuit may include an optional gasresistor (shown in FIG. 6). In some configurations, a membrane that iswithin the bubble generator, or in the gas line upstream of the bubblegenerator, will serve as a gas resistor. As an alternative or additionto the use of a membrane, other types of gas resistors can be placedupstream in the gas line, examples of which include a microorifice (e.g.available from O'Keefe Controls Co., Monroe Conn.) or a capillaryresistor. A fluid foam forms due to the mixing of gas and liquid in thebubble generator. The fluid foam flows to the flow cell and then to anintermediate waste reservoir. Gas can be vented from the intermediatewaste reservoir and liquid can be moved to a downstream waste reservoirunder the force of a pump. The downstream waste reservoir is open toatmosphere (ATM).

As shown in FIG. 6, the volumetric flow rate for the fluid foam (Q_(f))can be adjusted by modifying the volumetric flow rate of the liquid(Q_(l)) and the volumetric flow rate of the gas (Q_(g)). The flow ratescan be adjusted or evaluated using Poiseuille's equation forcompressible fluids. For a compressible fluid in a tube the volumetricflow rate and the linear velocity are not constant along the tube. Theflow is usually expressed at outlet pressure. As fluid is compressed orexpands, work is done and the fluid is heated or cooled. This means thatthe flow rate depends on the heat transfer to and from the fluid. For anideal gas in the isothermal case, where the temperature of the fluid ispermitted to equilibrate with its surroundings, and when the pressuredifference between ends of the tube is small, the volumetric flow rateat the tube outlet is given by Equation 2:

$Q = {\frac{dV}{dt} = {{v\; \pi \; R^{2}} = {{\frac{\pi \; {R^{4}( {P_{i} - P_{o}} )}}{8\; \mu \; L} \times \frac{P_{i} + P_{o}}{2\; P_{o}}} = {\frac{\pi \; R^{4}}{16\; \mu \; L}\mspace{11mu} ( \frac{P_{i}^{2} - P_{o}^{2}}{P_{o}} )}}}}$

wherein P_(i) is inlet pressure, P_(o) is outlet pressure, L is thelength of the tube, μ is viscosity, R is radius of the tube, V is volumeof the fluid at the outlet pressure and ν is the velocity of the fluidat the outlet pressure.

A bubble bolus can be used for efficient exchange of different fluids ina system set forth herein. Taking the system of FIG. 6 as an example,the bubble generator (‘bubbler’) can be used to produce a bubble bolusto the common fluid line upstream of the flow cell. A fluid foam can beproduced in the common fluid line by configuring the volumetric pump tomove liquid from the reservoir to the flow cell while gas is deliveredto the bubbler at a relatively high pressure. The combined effect of thepump and gas pressure produces the foam and moves it into the flow cell.A bubble bolus can be produced by reversing the direction of the pumpand reducing the pressure of the gas being delivered to the bubbler. Thecombined effect is to draw the fluid foam from the common fluid linetoward the reservoir and filling the common fluid line with a bubblebolus. The fluid foam in the flow cell will be retained since the gaspressure is reduced to a level that is lower than the back pressure onthe flow cell. The direction of the volumetric pump can then bereversed, and the gas pressure can be returned to the relatively highpressure that was used to produce fluid foam. This action will directthe bubble bolus through the common fluid line, and the bolus will bechased by liquid from the reservoir. The bolus will pass through thebubbler and into the flow cell followed by the liquid which will becomefoam at the bubbler prior to entering the flow cell. In the presentexample, only a single liquid reservoir is described. It will beunderstood that multiple reservoirs can be used, and they can beconnected to the common fluid line, for example, via a rotary valve. Therotary valve can be upstream of the volumetric pump such that the valveis cleared of fluid foam by the bubble bolus that was produced as setforth above.

A system of the present disclosure can optionally include an opticaldetection system configured to detect the inside of a flow cell such asthe inside of a detection channel in a flow cell. Particularly usefuloptical detection systems include those that are found in sub-systems orcomponents of nucleic acid sequencing systems. Several such detectionapparatus are configured for optical detection, for example, detectionof luminescence signals. Accordingly, an optical detection system caninclude an excitation system configured to irradiate the inside of aflow cell channel. The optical detection system can further include anemission system configured to detect luminescence from the inside of theflow cell channel. Detection of luminescence can be carried out usingmethods known in the art pertaining to nucleic acid arrays or nucleicacid sequencing. A luminophore can be detected based on any of a varietyof luminescence properties including, for example, emission wavelength,excitation wavelength, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)intensity, quenching, anisotropy or lifetime.

Examples of detection apparatus and components thereof that can be usedin a system or method herein are described, for example, in US Pat. App.Pub. No. 2010/0111768 A1 or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,329,860; 8,951,781 or9,193,996, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Otherdetection apparatus include those commercialized for nucleic acidsequencing such as those provided by Illumina™, Inc. (e.g. HiSeq™,MiSeg™, NextSeg™, or NovaSeg™ systems), Life Technologies™ (e.g. ABIPRISM, or SOLiD™ systems), Pacific Biosciences (e.g. systems using SMRT™Technology such as the Sequel™ or RS II™ systems), or Qiagen (e.g.Genereader™ system). Other useful detectors are described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,888,737; 6,175,002; 5,695,934; 6,140,489; or 5,863,722; or USPat. Pub. Nos. 2007/007991 A1, 2009/0247414 A1, or 2010/0111768; orWO2007/123744, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Although the system and methods of the present disclosure areillustrated in the context of optical detection in several exemplaryembodiments herein, it will be understood that other detectionmodalities can be used in addition or instead. For example, the detectorcan be an electronic detector used for detection of protons orpyrophosphate (see, for example, US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2009/0026082 A1;2009/0127589 A1; 2010/0137143 A1; or 2010/0282617 A1, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or the Ion Torrent™systems commercially available from ThermoFisher, Waltham, Mass.) or asused in detection of nanopores such as those commercialized by OxfordNanopore™, Oxford UK (e.g. MinION™ or PromethION™ systems) or set forthin U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,792; Soni & Meller, Clin. Chem. 53, 1996-2001(2007); Healy, Nanomed. 2, 459-481 (2007); or Cockroft, et al. J. Am.Chem. Soc. 130, 818-820 (2008), each of which is incorporated herein byreference. A FET detector can be used such as one or more of thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/767,712; US Pat. App. Pub. Nos.2017/0240962 A1, 2018/0051316 A1, 2018/0112265 A1, 2018/0155773 A1 or2018/0305727 A1; or U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,164,053, 9,829,456, 10,036,064, or10,125,391, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Other detection techniques that can be used in a method set forth hereininclude, for example, mass spectrometry which can be used to perceivemass; surface plasmon resonance which can be used to perceive binding toa surface; absorbance which can be used to perceive the wavelength ofthe energy a label absorbs; calorimetry which can be used to perceivechanges in temperature due to presence of a label; electricalconductance or impedance which can be used to perceive electricalproperties of a label, or other known analytic techniques. Mixed-phasefluids, such as foams, can be used for delivery or removal of reagents,analytes, products or the like from a flow cell that is to be examinedin a method set forth herein. In some configurations, the mixed-phasefluid will be present in the flow cell during an examination ordetection step. For example, the mixed-phase fluid can be flowingthrough the flow cell during the examination or detection step.Alternatively, mixed-phase fluid can be absent from a flow cell during adetection or examination step of a method set forth herein.

Control of system components, such as a bubble generator or phase mixingcomponent, can utilize a general purpose processor, a Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), aField Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. For example, a processor or other device can beprogrammed to actuate a valve or other fluidic component that controlsthe flow of particles, gas or liquid, into a phase mixing componentthereby creating a mixed-phase fluid having a desired number of bubblesor globules, bubbles or globules of a desired size or composition, orother desirable characteristics of bubbles or globules. As analternative or addition to controlling the flow of the material thatwill form the dispersed phase of the mixed-phase fluid, a processor orother device can be programmed to actuate a valve or other fluidiccomponent that controls the flow of the liquid that will form the bulkphase of the mixed-phase fluid. The same or different processor that isused to control fluids can interact with the system to acquire, storeand process signals (e.g. signals detected in a method set forthherein). In particular embodiments, a processor can be used todetermine, from the signals, the identity of the nucleotide that ispresent at a particular location in a template nucleic acid. In somecases, the processor will identify a sequence of nucleotides for thetemplate from the signals that are detected.

A useful processor can include one or more of a personal computersystem, server computer system, thin client, thick client, hand-held orlaptop device, multiprocessor system, microprocessor-based system, settop box, programmable consumer electronic, network PC, minicomputersystem, mainframe computer system, smart phone, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like. The processor can include one or more processors orprocessing units, a memory architecture that may include RAM andnon-volatile memory. The memory architecture may further includeremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. Further, the memory architecture may include one or more readersfor reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magneticmedia, such as a hard drive, a magnetic disk drive for reading from andwriting to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk, and/or an opticaldisk drive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatileoptical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The processor may also includea variety of computer system readable media. Such media may be anyavailable media that is accessible by a cloud computing environment,such as volatile and non-volatile media, and removable and non-removablemedia.

The memory architecture may include at least one program product havingat least one program module implemented as executable instructions thatare configured to carry out one or more steps of a method set forthherein. For example, executable instructions may include an operatingsystem, one or more application programs, other program modules, andprogram data. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs,objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on, that performparticular tasks set forth herein such as controlling the concentration,number, size, polydispersity or composition of bubbles, globules orparticles that are delivered to a liquid to create a mixed-phase fluid.

The components of a processor or other programmable device may becoupled by an internal bus that may be implemented as one or more of anyof several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and aprocessor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. Byway of example, and not limitation, such architectures include IndustryStandard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus,Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

A processor can optionally communicate with one or more external devicessuch as a keyboard, a pointing device (e.g. a mouse), a display, such asa graphical user interface (GUI), or other device that facilitatesinteraction of a user with a system of the present disclosure.Similarly, the processor can communicate with other devices (e.g., vianetwork card, modem, etc.). Such communication can occur via I/Ointerfaces. Still yet, a processor of a system herein may communicatewith one or more networks such as a local area network (LAN), a generalwide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet)via a suitable network adapter.

The present disclosure further provides a method for detecting ananalyte of interest, the method including steps of (a) providing ananalytical system including (i) a flow cell having an analyte ofinterest immobilized therein, (ii) a phase mixing component that mixes aliquid phase with a second phase at a predefined rate; (b) delivering aseries of fluids to the inside of the flow cell to bind to the analyteor modify the analyte, wherein at least one of the fluids is amixed-phase fluid produced by the phase mixing component to includebubbles, globules or particles of the second phase suspended in theliquid phase, thereby detecting the analyte of interest.

In a particular configuration, a method for sequencing a nucleic acid isprovided, the method including steps of (a) providing a sequencingsystem including (i) a flow cell having a nucleic acid immobilizedtherein, (ii) a phase mixing component that mixes a liquid phase with asecond phase at a predefined rate; (b) delivering a series of fluids tothe inside of the flow cell to perform a cycle of a sequencing process,wherein at least one of the fluids is a mixed-phase fluid produced bythe phase mixing component to include bubbles, globules or particles ofthe second phase suspended in the liquid phase; and (c) repeating step(b), thereby determining the sequence for the nucleic acid.

Particularly useful sequencing processes are cyclical processes thatemploy repeated cycles of reagent delivery. Each cycle can include onestep or multiple steps. For example, each cycle can include all stepsneeded to detect a single nucleotide position in a template nucleicacid. Some sequencing processes employ cyclical reversible terminator(CRT) chemistry in which each cycle includes steps for (i) adding asingle reversibly terminated nucleotide to increment a nascent primer toa nucleotide position that is to be detected; (ii) detecting thenucleotide at the single nucleotide position, and (iii) deblocking thenascent primer to allow a return to step (i) to start a subsequentcycle. One or more of these steps can be carried out in a mixed-phasefluid. In some configurations, all three steps are carried out in amixed-phase fluid. A mixed-phase fluid can be used to deliver and/orremove reagents or products of one or more of these steps. Examples ofreaction steps, reagents, and products that can be used in a CRT processthat uses mixed-phase fluids are set forth below and in the referencescited below. Alternatively, one or more of the exemplified steps,reagents or products can be carried out in the absence of a mixed-phasefluid.

A specific example of a useful CRT nucleic acid sequencing process is aSequencing By Binding™ (SBB™) reaction, for example, as described incommonly owned US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2017/0022553 A1; 2018/0044727 A1;2018/0187245 A1; or 2018/0208983 A1, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference. Generally, SBB™ methods for determining thesequence of a template nucleic acid molecule can be based on formationof a stabilized ternary complex (between polymerase, primed nucleic acidand cognate nucleotide) under specified conditions. The method caninclude an examination phase followed by a nucleotide incorporationphase. One or more sequencing phases can be carried out using amixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion).

The examination phase of an SBB™ process can be carried out in a flowcell, the flow cell containing at least one template nucleic acidmolecule primed with a primer by delivering to the flow cell reagents toform a first reaction mixture. The reaction mixture can include theprimed template nucleic acid, a polymerase and at least one nucleotidetype. Interaction of polymerase and a nucleotide with the primedtemplate nucleic acid molecule(s) can be observed under conditions wherethe nucleotide is not covalently added to the primer(s); and the nextbase in each template nucleic acid can be identified using the observedinteraction of the polymerase and nucleotide with the primed templatenucleic acid molecule(s). The interaction between the primed template,polymerase and nucleotide can be detected in a variety of schemes. Forexample, the nucleotides can contain a detectable label. Each nucleotidecan have a distinguishable label with respect to other nucleotides.Alternatively, some or all of the different nucleotide types can havethe same label and the nucleotide types can be distinguished based onseparate deliveries of different nucleotide types to the flow cell. Insome embodiments, the polymerase can be labeled. Polymerases that areassociated with different nucleotide types can have unique labels thatdistinguish the type of nucleotide to which they are associated.Alternatively, polymerases can have similar labels and the differentnucleotide types can be distinguished based on separate deliveries ofdifferent nucleotide types to the flow cell. Detection can be carriedout by scanning the flow cell using an apparatus or method set forthherein.

During the examination phase of an SBB™ process, discrimination betweencorrect and incorrect nucleotides can be facilitated by ternary complexstabilization. A variety of conditions and reagents can be useful. Forexample, the primer can contain a reversible blocking moiety thatprevents covalent attachment of nucleotide; and/or cofactors that arerequired for extension, such as divalent metal ions, can be absent;and/or inhibitory divalent cations that inhibit polymerase-based primerextension can be present; and/or the polymerase that is present in theexamination phase can have a chemical modification and/or mutation thatinhibits primer extension; and/or the nucleotides can have chemicalmodifications that inhibit incorporation, such as 5′ modifications thatremove or alter the native triphosphate moiety. The examination phasecan include scanning of the flow cell using apparatus and methods setforth herein. One or more reagents used in an examination phase of anSBB™ reaction can optionally be delivered via a mixed-phase fluid (e.g.a fluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) or contacted with amixed-phase fluid. A mixed-phase fluid can be removed from a flow cellduring an examination phase, for example, to facilitate detection.

The extension phase can then be carried out by creating conditions inthe flow cell where a nucleotide can be added to the primer on eachtemplate nucleic acid molecule. In some embodiments, this involvesremoval of reagents used in the examination phase and replacing themwith reagents that facilitate extension. For example, examinationreagents can be replaced with a polymerase and nucleotide(s) that arecapable of extension. Alternatively, one or more reagents can be addedto the examination phase reaction to create extension conditions. Forexample, catalytic divalent cations can be added to an examinationmixture that was deficient in the cations, and/or polymerase inhibitorscan be removed or disabled, and/or extension competent nucleotides canbe added, and/or a deblocking reagent can be added to render primer(s)extension competent, and/or extension competent polymerase can be added.It will be understood that any of a variety of nucleic acid sequencingreactions can be carried out using an apparatus and method of thepresent disclosure. Other exemplary sequencing methods are set forthbelow. One or more reagents used in an extension phase of an SBB™reaction can optionally be delivered via a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. afluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion), contacted with amixed-phase fluid and/or removed by a mixed-phase fluid.

Washes can be carried out between the various delivery steps of an SBB™process. Wash steps can be performed between any of a variety of stepsset forth herein. For example, a wash step can be useful for separatinga primed template nucleic acid from other reagents that were contactedwith the primed template nucleic acid under ternary complex stabilizingconditions during an SBB™ process. Such a wash can remove one or morereagents from interfering with examination of a mixture or fromcontaminating a second mixture that is to be formed on a substrate (orin a vessel) that had previously been in contact with the first mixture.For example, a primed template nucleic acid can be contacted with apolymerase and at least one nucleotide type to form a first mixtureunder ternary complex stabilizing conditions, and the first mixture canbe examined. Optionally, a wash can be carried out prior to examinationto remove reagents that are not participating in formation of astabilized ternary complex. Alternatively or additionally, a wash can becarried out after the examination step to remove one or more componentof the first mixture from the primed template nucleic acid. Then theprimed template nucleic acid can be contacted with a polymerase and atleast one other nucleotide to form a second mixture under ternarycomplex stabilizing conditions, and the second mixture can be examinedfor ternary complex formation. As before, an optional wash can becarried out prior to the second examination to remove reagents that arenot participating in formation of a stabilized ternary complex. One ormore of the washes can optionally employ a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. afluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion).

Another useful CRT sequencing process is sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS).SBS generally involves the enzymatic extension of a nascent primerthrough the iterative addition of nucleotides against a template strandto which the primer is hybridized. Briefly, SBS can be initiated bycontacting target nucleic acids, attached to sites in a flow cell, withone or more labeled nucleotides, DNA polymerase, etc. Those sites wherea primer is extended using the target nucleic acid as template willincorporate a labeled nucleotide that can be detected. Detection caninclude scanning using an apparatus or method set forth herein.Optionally, the labeled nucleotides can further include a reversibletermination property that terminates further primer extension once anucleotide has been added to a primer. For example, a nucleotide analoghaving a reversible terminator moiety can be added to a primer such thatsubsequent extension cannot occur until a deblocking agent is deliveredto remove the moiety. Thus, for embodiments that use reversibletermination, a deblocking reagent can be delivered to the vessel (beforeor after detection occurs). Washes can be carried out between thevarious delivery steps. The cycle can be performed n times to extend theprimer by n nucleotides, thereby detecting a sequence of length n.Exemplary SBS procedures, reagents and detection components that can bereadily adapted for use with a method, system or apparatus of thepresent disclosure are described, for example, in Bentley et al., Nature456:53-59 (2008), WO 04/018497; WO 91/06678; WO 07/123744; U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,057,026; 7,329,492; 7,211,414; 7,315,019 or 7,405,281, and USPat. App. Pub. No. 2008/0108082 A1, each of which is incorporated hereinby reference. Also useful are SBS methods that are commerciallyavailable from Illumina, Inc. (San Diego, Calif.). One or more reagentsused in an SBS process can optionally be delivered via a mixed-phasefluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion), contactedwith a mixed-phase fluid, and/or removed by a mixed-phase fluid. Amixed-phase fluid can be removed from a flow cell for detection duringan SBS process.

Some SBS embodiments are cyclical but need not employ reversibleterminator nucleotides. Such methods can also employ mixed-phase fluids.A particularly useful method includes detection of a proton releasedupon incorporation of a nucleotide into an extension product. Forexample, sequencing based on detection of released protons can usereagents and an electrical detector that are commercially available fromThermo Fisher (Waltham, Mass.) or described in US Pat. App. Pub. Nos.2009/0026082 A1; 2009/0127589 A1; 2010/0137143 A1; or 2010/0282617 A1,each of which is incorporated herein by reference. One or more reagentsused in an SBS process that employs proton detection can optionally bedelivered via a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry orfluid emulsion) or contacted with a mixed-phase fluid. Mixed-phasefluids can be particularly useful for removing reagents, for example,during a wash step.

Other cyclical sequencing processes can be used, such as pyrosequencing.Pyrosequencing detects the release of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) asnucleotides are incorporated into a nascent primer hybridized to atemplate nucleic acid strand (Ronaghi, et al., Analytical Biochemistry242 (1), 84-9 (1996); Ronaghi, Genome Res. 11 (1), 3-11 (2001); Ronaghiet al. Science 281 (5375), 363 (1998); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,210,891;6,258,568 and 6,274,320, each of which is incorporated herein byreference). In pyrosequencing, released PPi can be detected by beingconverted to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by ATP sulfurylase, and theresulting ATP can be detected via luciferase-produced photons. One ormore reagents used in a pyrosequencing process can optionally bedelivered via a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry orfluid emulsion) or contacted with a mixed-phase fluid. Mixed-phasefluids can be particularly useful for removing reagents, for example,during a wash step.

Sequencing-by-ligation reactions are also useful including, for example,those described in Shendure et al. Science 309:1728-1732 (2005); U.S.Pat. No. 5,599,675; or U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,341, each of which isincorporated herein by reference. Some embodiments can includesequencing-by-hybridization procedures as described, for example, inBains et al., Journal of Theoretical Biology 135 (3), 303-7 (1988);Drmanac et al., Nature Biotechnology 16, 54-58 (1998); Fodor et al.,Science 251 (4995), 767-773 (1995); or WO 1989/10977, each of which isincorporated herein by reference. In both sequencing-by-ligation andsequencing-by-hybridization procedures, primers that are hybridized tonucleic acid templates are subjected to repeated cycles of extension byoligonucleotide ligation. Typically, the oligonucleotides arefluorescently labeled and can be detected to determine the sequence ofthe template, for example, using a system or method set forth herein.One or more reagents used in a sequencing-by-ligation process canoptionally be delivered via a mixed-phase fluid (e.g. a fluid foam,fluid slurry or fluid emulsion) or contacted with a mixed-phase fluid.Mixed-phase fluids can be particularly useful for removing reagents, forexample, during a wash step.

Steps for the above sequencing methods can be carried out cyclically.For example, examination and extension steps of an SBB™ method can berepeated such that in each cycle a single next correct nucleotide isexamined (i.e. the next correct nucleotide being a nucleotide thatcorrectly binds to the nucleotide in a template nucleic acid that islocated immediately 5′ of the base in the template that is hybridized tothe 3′-end of the hybridized primer) and, subsequently, a single nextcorrect nucleotide is added to the primer. Any number of cycles of asequencing method set forth herein can be carried out including, forexample, at least 1, 2, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 250, 500 or more cycles.Alternatively or additionally, no more than 500, 250, 150, 100, 50, 25,10, 2 or 1 cycles are carried out.

Some embodiments can utilize methods involving real-time monitoring ofDNA polymerase activity. For example, nucleotide incorporations can bedetected through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)interactions between a fluorophore-bearing polymerase andgamma-phosphate-labeled nucleotides, or with zero-mode waveguides (ZMW).Techniques and reagents for sequencing via FRET and or ZMW detectionthat can be modified for use in an apparatus or method set forth hereinare described, for example, in Levene et al. Science 299, 682-686(2003); Lundquist et al. Opt. Lett. 33, 1026-1028 (2008); Korlach et al.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 1176-1181 (2008); or U.S. Pat. Nos.7,315,019; 8,252,911 or 8,530,164, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference. In real-time methods it can bebeneficial to replace or modify reagent solutions periodically.Replacement or modification can optionally employ a mixed-phase fluid(e.g. a fluid foam, fluid slurry or fluid emulsion).

Although the methods, compositions and apparatus of the presentdisclosure have been exemplified in the context of nucleic acidsequencing procedures, other procedures can benefit as well. Themethods, compositions and apparatus are particularly useful forprocedures that include repetitive steps such as reactions forsynthesizing polymers in which cycles of monomer addition are repeated.A particularly relevant synthetic process is synthesis of nucleic acids.In some configurations, nucleoside phosphoramidites are the monomersthat are repetitively added to a growing nucleic acid monomer.Nucleoside phosphoramidites include derivatives of natural or syntheticnucleosides in which protection groups (sometimes referred to a blockinggroups) are added to reactive exocyclic amine and hydroxy groups, and inwhich an N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite group is attached to the3′-hydroxy group of each nucleoside. Examples of protecting groupsinclude, but are not limited to, acid-labile dimethoxytrityl (DMT)groups.

In some configurations, nucleic acids can be synthesized by covalentlyattaching a first nucleoside with DMT group to a solid support. Thenucleoside can be attached to a solid support through a linker asdescribed further herein. Nucleic acids can be synthesized throughrepeated cycles of deprotection and coupling. Nucleosidephosphoramidites, deprotection agents and other reagents used forsynthesis of a growing nucleic acid, such as those set forth in furtherdetail below, can be moved to and from a flow cell or other vessel usingmixed-phase fluids.

In some embodiments described herein, a cycle of nucleic acid synthesiscan include four steps. In particular, a typical nucleic acid synthesiscycle includes a deblocking step, a coupling step, a capping step, andan oxidation step. In the deblocking step, the DMT group of the attachednucleoside is removed with an acidic solution, for example,dichloroacetic acid or trichloroacetic acid in dichloromethane. In thecoupling step, the phosphoramidite group of a nucleoside is activated byprotonation using reagents such as an acidic azole catalyst, forexample, tetrazole, 2-ethylthiotetrazole, 2-bezylthiotetrazole or4,5-dicyanoimidazole. The mixture is brought into contact with theattached deblocked nucleoside or attached deblocked oligonucleotide ofsubsequent cycles. The activated phosphoramidite group reacts with the5′-hydroxy group of the attached nucleoside. This reaction is sensitiveto moisture and can be performed under anhydrous conditions, forexample, using anhydrous acetonitrile. In the capping step, unreactedbound 5′-hydroxyoligonucleotides are quenched, for example byacetylation, or by providing the reactive hydroxyls with an electrondeficient reaction center, in order to prevent the formation of sideproducts during subsequent synthesis cycles. Reagents such as aceticanhydride and 1-methylimidazole can be used. In the oxidation step, thenewly formed tricoordinated phosphite triester linkage can be treatedwith reagents such as iodine and water in the presence of a weak base,such as pyridine, lutidine, or collidine. Subsequent cycles typicallybegin with a deblocking step.

The process of synthesizing a nucleic acid can be carried out with adesired sequence of nucleotide additions and repeated until theoligonucleotides reach a desired sequence composition and length. Atthis point, the DMT group can be removed from the most 5′ nucleosideresidue and the nucleic acid can be cleaved from the solid support usingagents such as aqueous ammonium hydroxide, aqueous methylamine, gaseousammonia or gaseous methylamine. One or more of steps of a nucleic acidsynthesis process, such as the steps set forth herein, can employ amixed-phase fluid for delivery of reagents, removal of reagents orwashing of a substrate upon which synthesis occurs.

Additional configurations of the methods, compositions and apparatusdescribed herein relate to the synthesis of other polymeric molecules.For example, compositions, methods, and apparatus described herein canbe configured to synthesize polypeptides. The process of peptidesynthesis on solid supports can involve building a peptide from thecarboxyl-terminal end. The peptide can be attached to a solid supportvia its carboxy-terminal amino acid. The peptide can include aprotecting group on the amino-terminal alpha amino moiety. Theprotecting group can then be cleaved off the peptide to form adeprotected peptide. Next, a monomeric amino acid, also containing analpha amino protecting group, can be contacted with the de-protectedpeptide under conditions for formation of a peptide bond between thealpha amino moiety of the deprotected peptide and the alpha carboxymoiety of the monomeric amino acid. The monomeric amino acid can beprovided in an activated form or an activating reagent can be added tothe amino acid and growing peptide. Washes can be carried out betweensteps to remove reagents. The cycle of deprotecting the prior amino acidand coupling the additional amino acid can be repeated until a peptideof the desired length is synthesized. Any reactive side chains of theamino acids are typically protected by chemical groups that canwithstand the coupling and deprotection procedure. These side chainprotecting groups, however, can be removed at the end of the synthesis.Useful reaction schemes for peptide synthesis include, for example,those described in Goodman et al. (Eds.). Synthesis of Peptides andPeptidomimetics, Vol. E22a. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart (2002), whichis incorporated herein by reference. One or more of steps of a peptidesynthesis process, such as the steps set forth herein, can employ amixed-phase fluid for delivery of reagents, removal of reagents orwashing of a substrate upon which synthesis occurs.

One or more of the steps set forth above for nucleic acid synthesis orpeptide synthesis can be carried out in a mixed-phase fluid. In someconfigurations, all of the steps of the respective method are carriedout in a mixed-phase fluid. A mixed-phase fluid can be used to deliverand/or remove reagents or products of one or more of these steps.Alternatively, one or more of the exemplified steps, reagents orproducts of a nucleic acid or peptide synthesis method can be carriedout in the absence of a mixed-phase fluid.

Example 1 Nucleic Acid Sequencing with and without Bubbles

This example provides a comparison of nucleic acid sequencing using aliquid to deliver reagents or a fluid foam to deliver the reagents. Thecomparison demonstrated that a fluid foam can be used instead of aliquid in order to deliver sequencing reagents to an array of nucleicacids during a sequencing run. The results also showed that using afluid foam in place of a liquid delivery medium provided substantialreduction in the consumption of reagents resulting in lower reagentcosts and reduction of waste volumes. The quality of sequencing dataobtained using fluid foam to deliver sequencing reagents was comparableto the quality of results obtained using a liquid to deliver thereagents.

Materials and Methods

Flow cells containing primed template nucleic acids were prepared usingliquid reagents as follows. Template nucleic acid strands synthesized in12 PCR reactions were prepared, and then independently bound to beads.This resulted in a population of 12 bead types, where each bead harboreda homogenous collection of one of the 12 template strands. Beadsharboring immobilized template strands were next attached to the innersurface of a flow cell. The inner surface of the flow cell washydrophilized to inhibit bubbles from adhering to the flow cell surface.Next, sequencing primers were flowed into the flow cell and allowed tohybridize to the immobilized template strands to form immobilizedprimer-template hybrids.

Sequencing was performed cyclically, where each cycle included steps for(i) extension: adding a reversibly terminated nucleotide to the primersof the immobilized primer-template hybrids, (ii) examination: formingand detecting stabilized ternary complexes on the reversibly terminated,immobilized primer-template hybrids, and (iii) activation: cleaving thereversible terminator from the extended primers. Each cycle resulted inaddition of a single nucleotide and detection of a subsequent nucleotideposition. As such the number of cycles correlated directly with thelength of the sequence read for each bead. Table 1 shows the stepscarried out for each individual cycle of a control sequencing run thatwas performed in liquid phase (i.e. absent introduced bubbles) alongwith the time for each step, flow rate for the fluidic reagents andtotal volume of liquid reagent consumed in each step.

TABLE 1 Sequencing Cycle for Liquid Phase Sequencing (No Bubbles) LIQUIDPHASE LIQUID PHASE TOTAL VOLUME TIME FLOW RATE CONSUMED STEP (SEC)(μL/SEC) (μL) RTS 5 32 160 RTS 30 1 30 NSB 5 32 160 EXT 5 32 160 PAUSE15 0 0 IMG 7 32 224 DETECT 1 0 0 NSB 5 32 160 EXA 5 32 160 PAUSE 15 0 0IMG 7 32 224 DETECT 1 0 0 NSB 5 32 160 EXC 5 32 160 PAUSE 15 0 0 IMG 732 224 DETECT 1 0 0 NSB 5 32 160 EXG 5 32 160 PAUSE 15 0 0 IMG 7 32 224DETECT 1 0 0 NSB 5 32 160 CLV 5 32 160 CLV 12 1 12 IMG 5 32 160

The sequencing cycle was initiated by incorporating reversibleterminator nucleotides at the 3′-ends of the primers of the immobilizedprimer-template hybrids. This was accomplished by the RTS step in whichthe flow cell was contacted with unlabeled reversibly terminatednucleotide analogs of dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP) in the presence of M15polymerase (see U.S. Pat App. Ser. No. 62/732,510, which is incorporatedherein by reference). The reversible terminator nucleotide used in thisillustrative procedure included a 3′-ONH₂ reversible terminator moiety.A description of this reversible terminator nucleotide can be found inU.S. Pat. No. 7,544,794, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The NSB step was carried out to remove the dNTPs from the RTS solutionand to wash the flow cell. More specifically, for the NSB step asolution containing isopropanol, Tween-80, hydroxylamine and EDTA wasflowed through the flow cell. The NSB step retained the M15 polymerase(see U.S. Pat. No. 10,400,272, which is incorporated herein byreference.

The cycle then continued with an examination subroutine in which each offour different nucleotides was individually delivered to the flow cell(EXT, EXA, EXC and EXG, delivered Cy5 labeled dTTP, Cy5 labelled dATP,Cy5 labeled dCTP and Cy5 labeled dGTP, respectively), the system pausedfluid flow to allow formation of ternary complex, the free nucleotidewas removed from the flow cell by delivery of IMG reagent and then theflow cell was examined for ternary complex formation at the immobilizedprimer-template hybrids. The IMG reagent included LiCl, betaine,Tween-80, KCl, Ammonium Sulfate, hydroxylamine, and EDTA whichstabilized the ternary complexes after removal of free nucleotides (seeU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/355,361, which is incorporatedherein by reference). The flow cell was imaged via fluorescencemicroscopy to detect ternary complexes that contained a labelednucleotide that was a cognate for the next correct nucleotide in each ofthe template nucleic acids. Reversible terminator moieties on the 3′nucleotides of the primer strands precluded nucleotide incorporationduring the ternary complex formation and detection steps.

Following the examination subroutine, the NSB wash was carried out toclear the flow cell of the nucleotides from the examination subroutine.Then the sequencing cycle continued with the CLV step in which thereversible terminator moieties were removed from the primers usingsodium acetate and sodium nitrite as set forth in U.S. Pat. No.7,544,794, which is incorporated herein by reference. The flow cell wasthen washed in IMG solution. Polymerase from the examination steps wasremoved by the CLV and IMG steps. The sequencing process then proceededto the next nucleotide position by returning to the first step of thenext cycle.

Table 2 shows the steps carried out for each individual cycle of asequencing run that was performed in fluid foam. The table shows theduration, liquid reagent flow rate, liquid volume consumption and gaspressure used for each step. The liquid phase of each step was the sameas those of the same name in the control sequencing run as set forthabove in the context of Table 1. However, the liquid phase was mixedwith gas for several of the steps using a bubble generator having a Yjunction and gas diffuser as shown in FIG. 5. The bubble generator wasplaced downstream of reservoirs that contained the liquid reagents andupstream of the flow cell. The bubble generator created a foam when thepressure was above 2 PSI (pounds per square inch). For detection stepsthe gas pressure was reduced to 2 PSI to omit bubbles. Accordingly,detection was carried out absent foam in a liquid reagent as done in thecontrol sequencing run of Table 1.

TABLE 2 Sequencing Cycle for Fluid Foam Sequencing (+Bubbles) LIQUIDLIQUID PHASE GAS PHASE TOTAL VOLUME PHASE TIME FLOW RATE CONSUMEDPRESSURE STEP (SEC) (μL/SEC) (μL) (PSI) RTS 5 10 50 15 RTS WIGGLE 30 0 02 NSB 5 10 50 10 NSB WIGGLE 5 0 0 2 EXT 5 10 50 20 EXT 1.5 −10 0 2 PAUSE15 0 0 2 IMG 5 10 50 15 IMG 1 50 50 2 IMG 1.5 −10 0 2 DETECT 1 0 0 2 NSB5 10 50 10 NSB WIGGLE 5 0 0 2 EXA 5 10 50 20 EXA 1.5 −10 0 2 PAUSE 15 00 2 IMG 5 10 50 15 IMG 1 50 50 2 IMG 1.5 −10 0 2 DETECT 1 0 0 2 NSB 5 1050 10 NSB WIGGLE 5 0 0 2 EXC 5 10 50 20 EXC 1.5 −10 0 2 PAUSE 15 0 0 2IMG 5 10 50 15 IMG 1 50 50 2 IMG 1.5 −10 0 2 DETECT 1 0 0 2 NSB 5 10 5010 NSB WIGGLE 5 0 0 2 EXG 5 10 50 20 EXG 1.5 −10 0 2 PAUSE 15 0 0 2 IMG5 10 50 15 IMG 1 50 50 2 IMG 1.5 −10 0 2 DETECT 1 0 0 2 NSB 5 10 50 10NSB WIGGLE 5 0 0 2 CLV 3 10 30 15 CLV 2 10 20 2 CLV 12 1 12 2 IMG 5 1050 15

Several steps set forth in Table 2 included a “wiggle” in which thedirection of flow for the fluid foam was toggled back and forth to allowmixing in the flow cell. Several steps also included a sustained reverseof the flow direction for the fluid foam or liquid reagent. Reverse flowis indicated by negative values in the flow rate column and zero valuesfor the total volume of fluid that passes through the flow cell.

Results

FIG. 7 shows plots of signal intensity vs. sequencing cycle for thesequencing protocol that used liquid delivery of reagents (FIG. 7A) orfluid foam delivery of reagents (FIG. 7B). Individual traces are shownfor the ‘on’ intensity detected for each nucleotide type and for the‘off’ intensity for each nucleotide type. For each bead in each cycle,the nucleotide type that produced the highest signal was identified asthe ‘on’ signal and the other three nucleotide types were identified asthe ‘off’ signal. The ‘on’ signals for each nucleotide type wereaveraged across all bead types detected in a given cycle, and the medianintensity was plotted across all cycles (100 cycles were run usingliquid delivery of reagents (FIG. 7A) and 150 cycles were run usingfluid foam delivery of reagents (FIG. 7B)) to obtain each of the ‘on’signal traces shown in the figure. Similar averaging of signalintensities across all bead types on a per cycle basis was used toarrive at the ‘off’ intensity traces shown in FIG. 7.

Signal decay for the ‘on’ traces was evaluated by fitting the traces toa curve defined by the following equation:

I=I ₀ e ^(−(n/τ))  (Equation 3)

wherein I is signal intensity, n is the number of cycles and τ is thecycle when the signal is about 37% of I₀ (initial signal intensity).Higher τ is indicative of reduced rate of signal decay, which isgenerally preferred since it indicates increased read length andsequencing accuracy, whereas increased rate of signal decay ischaracterized by lower values for τ. The goodness of fit was calculatedas the coefficient of determination, R². Higher R² values correlate withreduced signal intensity variance over the sequencing run. The tracesfor liquid delivery of reagents shown in FIG. 7A had an average τ of 83and an average R² of 0.97; and the traces for fluid foam delivery ofreagents shown in FIG. 7B had an average τ of 66 and an average R² of0.97 (the averages were taken across the on traces for all fournucleotide types). As indicated by the τ values, although the use offluid foam delivery of reagents in place of liquid reagent deliveryproduced a minor impact on read length, the use of fluid foam stillallowed for relatively long read lengths. Moreover, the R² values werecomparable for sequencing runs conducted with and without bubblesindicating that the use of fluid foam for delivering sequencing reagentshad an insignificant impact on variance of signal intensity.

Table 3 shows post processing results for the sequencing run usingliquid delivery of reagents as plotted in FIG. 7A. Table 4 showssequencing results for the sequencing run using liquid delivery asplotted in FIG. 7B. The first column of each table shows the percent ofthe observed beads that are omitted from the analysis, where “PNN”includes all of the observed beads, P01 omits the lowest quality 1% ofthe data, P02 omits the lowest quality 2% of the data, etc. up to P06which omits the lowest quality 6% of the data. For each row the numberof “No Calls”, “Right Calls” and “Wrong Calls” are shown along with thesum of those three columns shown under the “Total Calls” column. Thepercent of errors is shown along with the relevant Q score that wascalculated for each value in the Q % column.

In nucleic acid sequencing applications, the Q score is a property thatis logarithmically related to the base calling error probabilities (P)according to the following equation

Q=−10 log(P)  (Equation 4)

For example, a Q score of 20 (Q20) for a particular base call isequivalent to a 1 in 100 probability that the base call is incorrect.This means that the base call accuracy (i.e., the probability of acorrect base call) is 99.0%. A higher base call accuracy of 99.9% isindicated by a Q score of Q30 and indicates an incorrect base callprobability of 1 in 1000. Q40 indicates a base call accuracy of 99.99%(i.e. incorrect base call probability of 1 in 10,000), Q50 indicates aneven higher base call accuracy of 99.999% (i.e. incorrect base callprobability of 1 in 100,000), etc. Currently available high throughputsequencing platforms (i.e. ‘next generation” sequencing platforms suchas those available from Illumina, Inc., San Diego Calif.) typically useQ30 as a benchmark for quality. Higher Q scores are indicative ofincreased accuracy of variant calls, which provides increased accuracyof conclusions and reduced costs for validation experiments.

As indicated by the results of Table 3, when sequencing was carried outusing liquid reagents a Q score of nearly Q50 was obtained withoutdiscarding any of the observed data. Omitting the lowest quality 1% ofthe data from the analysis yielded a Q score of Q70 (i.e. incorrect basecall probability of 1 in 10,000,000). By comparison, delivery of thereagents in foam fluid instead of liquid produced a Q score of about 38without discarding any data. A score of Q70 was obtained by omitting amere 6% of the data. Accordingly, the use of foam fluid to deliversequencing reagents resulted in highly accurate sequencing.

TABLE 3 Sequencing Results (No Bubbles) NO RIGHT WRONG TOTAL ERROR Q Q %CALLS CALLS CALLS CALLS PERCENT SCORE PNN 25 789688 8 789696 0.001 49.94P00 0 789688 8 789696 0.001 49.94 P01 0 781846 0 781846 0 70 P02 0774056 0 774056 0 70 P03 0 767193 0 767193 0 70 P04 0 767193 0 767193 070 P05 0 756686 0 756686 0 70 P06 0 756686 0 756686 0 70

TABLE 4 Sequencing Results (with bubbles) NO RIGHT WRONG TOTAL ERROR Q Q% CALLS CALLS CALLS CALLS PERCENT SCORE PNN 966 1029434 160 10295940.016 38.09 P00 0 1029434 160 1029594 0.016 38.09 P01 0 1019277 211019298 0.002 46.86 P02 0 1008994 8 1009002 0.001 51.01 P03 0 998703 3998706 0 55.22 P04 0 988407 3 988410 0 55.18 P05 0 978112 2 978114 056.89 P06 0 967818 0 967818 0 70

Table 5 shows consumption of liquid reagents per step and sequencingcycle. The foam fluid was produced by adding bubbles to the liquidreagent. As such, the bubbles occupy volume in the fluid foam whicheffectively reduces the total amount of reagent in a given volume offluid foam compared to the same volume of the liquid reagent. However,the concentration of reagent in the liquid phase of the fluid foam isthe same as the apparent concentration of the reagent in the liquidreagent as experienced by nucleic acids on the surface of the flow cell.Thus, the nucleic acids on the surface are contacted with sequencingreagents that are at the same “apparent” concentration in the fluid foamas in the non-bubbled liquid reagent even though the total amount ofreagent consumed per sequencing cycle is reduced when bubbles are addedto make the fluid foam.

TABLE 5 Reagent Consumption Per Step Per Cycle +BUBBLES NO BUBBLESLIQUID LIQUID REAGENT REAGENT CONSUMED CONSUMED SAVINGS RTS 50 190 74%NSB 250 800 69% EXT 50 160 69% EXA 50 160 69% EXC 50 160 69% EXG 50 16069% IMG 500 1056 53% CLV 62 172 64% TOTAL 1062 2858 63%

The results of Table 5 show that reagent savings between 53% and 74%were achieved by adding bubbles to the sequencing reagents. The overallreagent savings for each cycle was 63%. Nevertheless, as indicated bythe results of FIG. 7 and Tables 3 and 4, the use of fluid foam forsequencing yielded read lengths and read qualities comparable to thoseproduced using liquid phase reagents in the sequencing platform.

Example 2 Nucleic Acid Sequencing System that Utilizes Fluid Foam

This example describes a nucleic acid sequencing system that includes astage, a liquid delivery component, a gas delivery component, a bubblegenerator component, and an optical detection component, wherein thestage is configured to accept a flow cell having a detection channel,wherein the optical detection component is configured to detect theinterior of the detection channel, wherein the liquid delivery componentis configured to deliver liquid from a plurality of reservoirs to thedetection channel, wherein the gas delivery component is configured todeliver gas from one or more source to the bubble generator component,and wherein the bubble generator component is configured to introducebubbles from the gas delivery component into liquid from the liquiddelivery component at a location that is downstream of the plurality ofreservoirs and upstream of the flow cell, thereby delivering to thedetection channel a fluid foam that includes bubbles of the gas from thegas delivery component.

Several of the components and functions of the nucleic acid sequencingsystem are set forth in further detail below. It will be understood thatthe system is exemplary. One or more of the components set forth belowcan be omitted or replaced with other components, for example, as setforth elsewhere herein. Other components that are set forth herein canbe added to the exemplary system without necessarily replacing acomponent exemplified below.

A block diagram of nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 is shown in FIG.8. Fluidic connections and the directions in which the fluids typicallyflow in system 1000 are indicated by arrows, wherein solid arrowsindicate the flow of liquid or foam and dotted arrows indicate the flowof gas. In some circumstances, fluids can move in opposite directions,for example, when wiggling the fluids. The block diagram shows fluidicconnections but is not intended to necessarily reflect the physicallocations of the components, the lengths of the fluidic lines or thephysical structure of the components.

Nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 includes sipper array 1300 whichcontacts liquids in the plurality of reagent reservoirs 1400. Sipperarray 1300 is fluidically connected to routing manifold 1500 whichdirects liquid from individual sippers of sipper array 1300 to bubblegenerator 1100 or bubble generator 1155 (the bubble generators are alsoreferred to as bubble generating components). Bubble generators 1100 and1155 mix gas with the liquid to form a foam. Bubble generator 1100 isfluidically connected to ingress 1211 of detection channel 1201 of flowcell 1200. Bubble generator 1155 is fluidically connected to ingress1221 of detection channel 1202 of flow cell 1200. The gas is directed tobubble generators 1100 and 1155 through a gas delivery component thatincludes compressed air source 1350 which directs gas through pneumaticcontroller 1300, through dedicated line in routing manifold 1500 to thebubble generators. The foam produced by bubble generator 1100 isdirected to detection channel 1201 due to displacement forces applied tothe liquid by pump 1050 or 1051 at a location in the liquid deliverycomponent that is between the plurality of reagent reservoirs 1400 andthe bubble generators 1100 and 1155. Egress 1212 for detection channel1201 and egress 1222 are fluidically connected to routing manifold 1500such that foam from detection channels 1201 and 1202, respectively, canbe transferred downstream through fluidic sensor array 1600 or 1601 thenthrough downstream selector valve 1700 to waste tank 1800. Thedownstream selector valve 1700 allows the fluidic systems passingthrough detection channel 1201 and detection channel 1202, respectively,to be selectively opened or closed.

Nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 further includes detector 1900. Inthis example, detector 1900 is an optical detector that includes anexcitation system configured to irradiate the detection channels insideof flow cell 1200, and an emission system configured to detectluminescence from the detection channels inside the flow cell. Flow cell1200 is positioned relative to the fluidic components and relative todetector 1900 by stage 1950. Nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 furtherincludes heater 1650 which is configured to heat the liquids in theliquid delivery component at a location between plurality of reagentreservoirs 1400 and bubble generating component 1100.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an assembly of several components ofnucleic acid sequencing system 1000. System 1000 is supported by base1009 and frame 1010. The top middle region of frame 1010 is configuredfor a user to access the system in order to place flow cell 1200 onstage 1950. Flow cell 1200 is pressed to stage 1950 by preload 1951. Assuch, flow cell 1200 is positioned to be detected by optical detector1900. Flow cell 1200 is translated along stage 1950 by translationalcomponents 1955 and held to a reference surface on stage 1950 to allowdetection of an array of nucleic acids (or other analytical sample)inside flow cell 1200. Components and operation of preload 1951,scanning system 1955 and optical detector 1900 are set forth in US Pat.App. Pub. No. 2019/0055596 A1, which is incorporated herein byreference. The system also includes vent pipe 1920 and fan 1921 forremoving heat generated by the optical detector.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 furtherincludes peristaltic pumps 1050 and 1051 which are configured to applyliquid displacement forces (e.g. positive pressure, positivedisplacement or the like) at a location in the liquid delivery componentthat is between plurality of reservoirs 1400 and bubble generators 1100and 1155, thereby delivering liquid from the liquid delivery componentto flow cell 1200. In exemplary system 1000, the pumps can be configuredto apply liquid displacement forces to the liquid delivery component ata location that is between the rotary valve and the bubble generatorcomponent, thereby delivering liquid from the liquid delivery componentto the flow cell.

In the view of FIG. 9, fluidic connections between routing manifold 1500and flow cell 1200 have been removed and are instead shown in FIGS. 12Aand 12B. The plurality of reservoirs 1400 is shown as the reservoirs areengaged by sipper array 1300. Also shown are drawers 1402 and 1403 whichallow the user to replace liquids in the reservoirs. The reservoirs canbe filled with reagents for a nucleic acid sequencing process. Exemplaryreagents include, but are not limited to polymerases, nucleotides andother reagents set forth in Example 2, elsewhere herein, or inreferences cited herein, in the context of nucleic acid sequencing.Optionally, the nucleotides and/or polymerases can be exogenouslylabeled for example with luminophores, such as those set forth herein orin references cited herein.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of routing manifold 1500 fluidically connectedto sipper manifold 1302 and sipper manifold 1303. Sippers attach to thesipper manifolds such that liquid drawn from a reservoir by the sipperis transferred through the sipper manifold to routing manifold 1500 bydedicated channels. For example, sipper manifold 1303 includes sipperattachment points 1310, 1311 and 1313 which are fluidically connected tofluid lines 1314 through 1316 within sipper manifold 1303. Fluid lines1314 through 1316 connect to respective lines in routing manifold 1500via connections 1500 to deliver the reagents to rotary valve 1560. FIG.10 also shows connections 1510, on routing manifold 1500, which connectto respective connections on sipper manifold 1302 such that fluid drawnthrough the sippers can be directed to rotary valve 1550. Similarly,connections 1511, on routing manifold 1500, connect to respectiveconnections on sipper manifold 1303 such that fluid drawn through thesippers can be directed to rotary valve 1560. Rotary valves 1550 and1560 are visible in FIG. 11 which shows a bottom view of routingmanifold 1500. FIG. 10 also shows egress port 1178 which connects theoutflow of rotary valve 1550 to bubble generator 1100, fluidic ingressport 1176 which connects the egress of flow cell channel 1202 (FIG. 8)to waste tank 1800 (FIG. 8), and gas egress port 1177 which delivers gasfrom compressed air source 1350 (FIG. 8) to bubble generator 1100 (FIG.8). Similar fluidic ports are present for rotary valve 1560.

FIG. 12A shows a perspective view of the fluidic connection betweennucleic acid sequencing system 1000 and flow cell 1200. FIG. 12B showsthe same perspective, but with the connectors disconnected and slightlydisplaced. FIG. 13 shows the connection between flow cell 1200 andliquid delivery components of nucleic acid sequencing system 1000.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the flow cell 1200 is fluidicallyconnected to the instrument. Instrument connector 1110 engages withinstrument connection port 1172. Instrument connection port 1172contains gas egress port 1177 (FIG. 12B), fluid ingress 1176 (FIG. 12B)and liquid egress 1178 (FIG. 12B). Channels 1116 and 1117 of instrumentconnector 1110 are fluidically connected to flow cell connector 1180 byflexible tubes 1191 and 1192, respectively. Instrument connector 1110can be engaged with instrument connection port 1172 by hand since theconnector 1110 has compressible hook 1120 (FIG. 12B), which fits acomplementary latch on instrument connection port 1176.

Also shown in FIG. 12A is peristalic pump 1050, which has a rotor thatcontacts flexible tube 1193 to apply positive pressure upstream ofbubble generator 1100 (FIG. 8). Flexible tube 1193 passes from hole 1130of instrument connector 1110, the over the rotor of peristalic pump1050, and then into hole 1131 of instrument connector 1110. Preload 1951is also shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B.

Regarding FIG. 13, the flow cell 1200 includes a flow cell connector1180 engages with flow cell port 1190. Flow cell connector 1180 containsingress 1211 for detection channel 1201 (FIG. 8) and egress 1222 fordetection channel 1202 (FIG. 8). Instrument connector 1110 is configuredto fluidically connect flexible tube 1191 to channel ingress 1211 and toconnect flexible tube 1192 to channel egress 1222. Similarly, flow cellconnector 1180 can be engaged with flow cell connection port 1190 byhand since connector 1180 has compressible hooks 1181 and 1185 that fitlatches 1198 and 1195, respectively.

FIG. 14A shows an exploded view of left side instrument connector 1110,which connects fluidic components of system 1000 to the flow cell. FIG.14B shows an exploded view of right side instrument connector 1160,which connects fluidic components of system 1000 to the flow cell. Forease of illustration, several elements of instrument connector 1160 arenumbered the same as elements having similar function in instrumentconnector 1110. Instrument connector 1100 includes two plastic pieces1121 and 1122, which can be assembled to contain bubble generator 1100.The two pieces can be snapped together, being held in place bycompression fittings. The male components of the compression fittings1113-1115 on piece 1122 snap into female fittings 1133-1135 on piece1121. Bubble generator 1100 fits within pocket 1111 on pieces 1121 and asimilar pocket on piece 1122.

When connector 1100 is assembled, liquid ingress port 1161 of bubblegenerator 1100 is in fluidic communication with flexible tube 1193(FIGS. 12A and 12B). Flexible tube 1193 (FIGS. 12A and 12B) attaches torotary valve 1550 (FIG. 11) via egress port 1178 (FIG. 10), passesthrough channel 1119 of connector 1110 then out hole 1130 (FIG. 12A) toloop around a rotor on peristaltic pump 1050 (FIG. 12A). Flexible tube1193 (FIGS. 12A and 12B) then re-enters connector 1110 through hole 1131(FIG. 12A) and passes through channel 1118 where flexible tube 1193(FIGS. 12A and 12B) attaches to liquid ingress port 1161 on bubblegenerator 1100. Channel 1116 of connector 1110 connects to flexible tube1191 (FIG. 13) such that foam exiting bubble generator 1100 at fluidport 1162 is directed to ingress 1211 (FIGS. 8 and 13) of detectionchannel 1201 (FIG. 8). Instrument connector 1110 also contains channel1112 which connects the gas delivery component of nucleic acidsequencing system 1000 to bubble generator 1100. More specifically, gasfrom the gas delivery component is transferred from gas egress port 1177(FIG. 10), through channel 1112 to gas inlet port 1163 (FIG. 15A) onbubble generator 1100.

Also included on instrument connector 1110 is channel 1117, whichconnects flexible tube 1192 (FIG. 13) to instrument fluidic ingress port1176 (FIG. 10). As such, foam exiting detection channel 1202 (FIG. 8)via egress 1222 (FIG. 8) can travel through flexible tube 1192 (FIG.13), then through channel 1117 (FIG. 14A), then through instrumentfluidic ingress port 1176 (FIG. 10) to the routing manifold on its wayto fluidic sensor 1600 or 1601 (FIG. 8), then downstream selector valve1700 (FIG. 8) to waste tank 1800 (FIG. 8).

FIG. 15A shows bubble generator 1100, FIG. 15B shows an exploded view ofbubble generator 1100, FIG. 15C shows the inside of piece 1169 of bubblegenerator 1100 and FIG. 15D shows piece 1168 of bubble generator 1100.The two outer pieces 1168 and 1169 (FIG. 15B) of bubble generator 1100fit together via compression fitting between ridge 1170 (FIGS. 15B and15C) and trough 1171 (FIG. 15D). Outer piece 1169 includes gas inletport 1163 (FIGS. 15B and 15C). Outer piece 1168 includes liquid inletport 1161 and foam outlet port 1162 (FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15D). The twopieces when assembled house gasket 1164 (FIG. 15B) and hydrophobicmembrane 1165 (FIG. 15B) having an array of holes. The holes in themembrane have diameters between 1 μm and 80 μm and are not visible atthe resolution of the figure. As shown in FIG. 15B, gasket 1164 has anelongated slit that, when sandwiched between face 1166 of upper piece1168 and membrane 1165, forms a fluidic channel for liquid to flow fromliquid inlet port 1161 and foam outlet port 1162. The liquid that passesthrough the gasket-formed channel will take up bubbles that pass intothe channel from membrane 1165, thereby creating the foam.

Gas enters nucleic acid sequencing system 1000 from compressed airsource 1350 such as a gas cannister containing an inert gas or noblegas. Alternatively, compressed air source 1350 is an air compressorconfigured to deliver atmospheric air to bubble generator 1100.Compressed air source 1350 produces positive pressure on the gas that isdelivered to the bubble generator. A useful air compressor is the EagleEA 2000 having a single phase, 115 Volt, 44 dBA, 3.5 Amp motor; andhaving a single-stage, oil free, 50% duty cycle, pump that is CFM ratedat 90 PSI and has a maximum PSI of 125. Gas from compressed air source1350 is transferred to pneumatic controller 1300, which is configured toregulate and modify the delivery of the gas from the one or more sourcesinto the liquid. Pneumatic controller 1300 is configured to vary thepressure of the gas, for example, in a range between 2 and 50 psi.

Example 3 Flow Cell Having Fluid Foam Inside

An exemplary flow cell includes a ternary complex immobilized inside aflow cell channel, wherein the ternary complex includes a polymerase, aprimed template nucleic acid and a next correct nucleotide for thetemplate; and a fluid foam that is in contact with the ternary complexin the flow cell channel, wherein the fluid foam includes a plurality ofgas bubbles in a liquid, wherein the fluid foam includes a volumefraction of bubbles that is at least 25% of the total volume of thefluid foam in the flow cell channel, and wherein the average effectivediameter of the gas bubbles is at most 95%, of the diameter of the flowcell channel.

Optionally, the polymerase in the flow cell is attached to an exogenous,luminescent label. Alternatively or additionally, the next correctnucleotide can be attached to an exogenous luminescent label.

Whether having labeled components or not, the ternary complex can bepresent at a site of an array of nucleic acids that is immobilizedinside the flow cell channel. Optionally, the array includes at least1×10³ sites that have immobilized ternary complexes. Optionally, theaverage area for each of the sites in the array is less than 25 squaremicrons. Each of the sites can include an ensemble of nucleic acids,each ensemble having nucleic acids having a common template sequence.

The ternary complex can be immobilized in the flow cell via attachmentof the primed template nucleic acid to an inside surface of the flowcell channel. For example, the ternary complex can be immobilized viaattachment of the primed template nucleic acid to a bead inside the flowcell channel. The primed template nucleic acid can be immobilized vialinkage to the 5′ end of the primer, via linkage to the 3′ end of thetemplate, or via linkage to the 5′ end of the template.

The fluid foam can be flowing through the flow cell channel underpositive pressure. However, the fluid foam can be static for at leastsome period of time during its use. The gas bubbles in the fluid foamcan be substantially devoid of oxygen, for example, containing insteadan inert gas or noble gas. Alternatively, a fluid foam can be composedof bubbles that contain atmospheric air or oxygen.

In addition to the immobilized components, the flow cell can containfree components that are solvated in the liquid phase of the fluid foam.For example, the fluid foam can contain free nucleotides. The freenucleotides can be present at any desired concentration, for example, ata concentration of at least 50 nM. The free nucleotides can haveexogenous luminescent labels, blocking moieties (such as reversibleterminator moieties), both types of moieties or neither type of moiety.Whether or not the fluid foam contains free nucleotides, the fluid foamcan contain free polymerases. The polymerases can be present at anydesired concentration, for example, a concentration of at least 5units/ml.

Optionally, the cross-sectional area of the detection channel can be atmost 100 mm². Alternatively or additionally, the cross-sectional area ofthe detection channel is at least 100 μm². The length andcross-sectional area of the detection channel can be adjusted toaccommodate a desired volume of fluid foam. For example, the volume ofthe detection channel can be at most 1 ml. Alternatively oradditionally, the volume of the detection channel is at least 1 μl.Other channel sizes can be used for example at a scale known in the artas microfluidic scale or nanofluidic scale.

The detection channel of the flow cell can optionally include anoptically transparent window through which the ternary complex isvisible. The window can be optically transparent to the wavelengths oflight used for detection. For example, the window can be transparent toone or more of ultraviolet light, visible light or infrared light.

The primed template nucleic acid of the ternary complex can include aprimer that is reversibly terminated or a primer having an extendable 3′end (i.e. the primer can have a 3′ hydroxyl moiety). Optionally, theternary complex can be a stabilized ternary complex. However, theternary complex can, alternatively, be formed during a reaction thatwill incorporate the next correct nucleotide into the primer. As such,the ternary complex need not be stabilized nor inhibited fromparticipating in polymerase catalyzed primer extension.

Optionally, the bubbles in the fluid foam can have an average effectivediameter that is smaller than 500 μm. Alternatively or additionally, thebubbles in the fluid foam can have an average effective diameter that islarger than 500 nm. The fluid foam can contain surfactants, viscosityagents or other chemicals that alter the stability, size or otherproperties of bubbles in the foam.

Throughout this application various publications, patents and/or patentapplications have been referenced. The disclosures of these documents intheir entireties are hereby incorporated by reference in thisapplication.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for sequencing a nucleic acid,comprising (a) providing a sequencing system comprising (i) a flow cellcomprising a nucleic acid immobilized therein, (ii) a bubble generatorcomponent that delivers gas bubbles to a liquid at a predefined rate;(b) delivering a series of fluids to the inside of the flow cell toperform a cycle of a sequencing process, wherein at least one of thefluids is a fluid foam produced by the bubble generator componentcomprising gas bubbles in the liquid; and (c) repeating step (b),thereby determining the sequence for the nucleic acid.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the nucleic acid is immobilized on a surface inside theflow cell.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nucleic acid is presentat a site in an array of nucleic acids immobilized on the surface. 4.The sequencing system of claim 3, wherein the sequencing processcomprises optically resolving the site from other sites in the array. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fluids that isdelivered to the flow cell is fluid foam containing a reversiblyterminated nucleotide.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one ofthe fluids that is delivered to the flow cell is fluid foam containing adeblocking reagent.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe fluids that is delivered to the flow cell is fluid foam containing afluorescently labeled nucleotide.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein thefluorescently labeled nucleotide comprises a reversible terminatormoiety.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the fluidsthat is delivered to the flow cell is fluid foam containing apolymerase.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the polymerase forms astabilized ternary complex with a fluorescently labeled nucleotide andthe nucleic acid in fluid foam.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thesequencing process comprises optical detection of the stabilized ternarycomplex.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the polymerase covalentlyadds a fluorescently labeled nucleotide to the nucleic acid in fluidfoam.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sequencing processcomprises optical detection of the fluorescently labeled nucleotideadded to the nucleic acid.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein theoptical detection comprises irradiating the inside of the flow cell andcollecting luminescence emission from the inside of the flow cell. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein the bubbles are substantially devoid ofoxygen gas.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the bubble generatorcomponent comprises a filter membrane located at a junction throughwhich the gas is delivered to the liquid.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the filter membrane comprises a hydrophobic material having apattern of holes therein.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the fluids that is delivered to the flow cell is substantiallydevoid of bubbles.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sequencingprocess comprises optical detection of the nucleic acid in the fluidthat is devoid of bubbles.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein thedelivering comprises delivering at least a portion of the fluid foaminto the flow cell, out of the flow cell and back into the flow cell.21. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid foam comprises a volumefraction of bubbles that is at least 25% of the total volume of thefluid foam.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the average diameter ofthe bubbles is at most 95%, of the diameter of the inside of the flowcell.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of theinside of the flow cell is between 10 μm² and 100 mm².
 24. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the volume of the inside of the flow cell is between 1μl and 10 ml.
 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the bubbles in thefluid foam have an average diameter that is between 500 nm and 500 μm.26. A sequencing system, comprising a stage, a liquid deliverycomponent, a gas delivery component and a bubble generator component,wherein the stage is configured to accept a flow cell, wherein theliquid delivery component is configured to deliver liquid from one ormore reservoirs to the inside of the flow cell, wherein the gas deliverycomponent is configured to deliver gas from one or more source to thebubble generator component, and wherein the bubble generator componentis configured to introduce bubbles from the gas delivery component intoliquid from the liquid delivery component to deliver a fluid foam to theinside of the flow cell, wherein the fluid foam comprises bubbles of thegas in the liquid.
 27. A flow cell comprising a stabilized ternarycomplex immobilized inside a flow cell, wherein the stabilized ternarycomplex comprises a polymerase, a primed template nucleic acid and anext correct nucleotide for the template; and a fluid foam comprising aplurality of gas bubbles in a liquid, wherein the fluid foam is incontact with the stabilized ternary complex.